Growing Solutions: your next step in greenhouse

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1 Demonstration project for SME vegetable growers Growing Solutions: your next step in greenhouse vegetable growing Green Farming Demonstration Project Growing Solutions: Improving your knowledge about vegetable growing

2 The link between Dutch and East African horticulture Green Farming is a Dutch programme that unites horticultural networks in the Netherlands, Kenya and Ethiopia. This is achieved by setting up joint activities, projects and co-operations in the areas of research, development and production. All Green Farming activities are related to one or more of the five main themes of the programme: Water management Crop management Climate and energy Post-harvest and logistics Research and knowledge exchange Project Partners Through Green Farming a consortium of leading Dutch greenhouse technology suppliers is implementing the Growing Solutions Kenya program. The consortium includes Van der Hoeven, Gakon, Bosman VanZaal, Genap, Horticoop, Hortimax, Ridder Drive, Koppert Biological Systems, Ludvig Svensson, Hoogendoorn Growth Management, DLV Plant/GreenQ and AVAG, the Dutch organization for horticultural suppliers. Aim of Growing Solutions The main aim of Growing Solutions is to contribute to the improvement of living standards of small and medium sized Kenyan vegetable growers. Through the program Dutch horticultural knowledge and technology will come available for the benefit of local growers. Core of the program is to demonstrate greenhouse production technology adapted to local production conditions supported by an extensive knowledge transfer and capacity building. Growing Solutions will run until the end of Approach The Growing Solutions program has three components: 1 Development of greenhouse technology modules that suit the local production conditions; 2 Establishment of a demonstration location; 3 Implementation of an extensive training and support program for vegetable growers. The capacity building program provides local producers with new insights in growing vegetables. Growers will be supported to realize higher yields with new production methods and be taught how to use the demonstrated technology. Study groups are the core of the capacity building program. Four study groups of 25 growers will be formed. Each month they will meet at the demonstration location for training. Topics for training are fertilization, irrigation, climate control, crop management, integrated pest management, safe application of pesticides, harvesting and post-harvest handling. Study group participants will receive separate training on management and business planning. From December 2015 to August 2016 field days will be organized for larger groups of interested growers. 2 3

3 Many opportunities for growing vegetables in Greenhouses. Growing Solutions Kenya will show you how to grow high quality vegetables in an efficient way. Investing in greenhouses is smart, because they protect crops from bad weather conditions. Additionally you can plan crops for times when vegetables are scarce and expensive. Protected crops consume less water and fertilizer while pests and diseases are easier to control. Three different greenhouse production systems have been designed to show the possibilities for producing high quality vegetables at high production levels. The modular set-up will allow smaller, start-up farmers to start at a more basic technology setting while offering opportunities for larger, more experience growers to invest in the next level of greenhouse production technology. The 3 demo modules will be shown at the demo site at Latia Resource Centre. Being one of the most important vegetable crops in Kenya tomatoes have been selected as the demonstration crop. Apart from improved productivity, attention is focused on safe working conditions, efficient use of input and safe and healthy food with minimal use of pesticides A B C The BASIC module. The Basic greenhouse module creates a good growing climate with a gutter height at 4 m and a fixed ventilation window at the top of the greenhouse. Sides are open and covered with insect netting. The internal frame is strong enough to support the crop load. The production is soil based with manual application of water and fertilizer through drip lines. The PLUS module. In the PLUS module the greenhouse construction is the same as in the Basic module with the option to open and close the top vent and the side walls manually. Unlike the basic module the water and fertilizer application is automated with the FertimixGo!. This will allow for the timely application of fertilizers and water according to a pre-set schedule in accordance with the needs of the plants. As in the basic module the production is soil based. The ADVANCED module. In the Advanced module the internal growing climate is fully automatically controlled by the Isii compact, thus creating the optimal growing conditions for a maximum production of the vegetable crop. The greenhouse has a movable screen to protect the plants and optimize the growing climate. Water and fertilizer application is similar as the Plus module. Production is on substrate in a 50%-50% mixture of coco peat and pumice. Water and fertilizer application is similar as in the PLUS module. 4 5

4 Consortium partner information Avag AVAG Platform of Horticulture Suppliers is the professional association of Dutch producers and suppliers of greenhouses, installations and equipment for greenhouses. AVAG has approximately sixty members and represents a large part of the Dutch greenhouse industry. Bosman Van Zaal Bosman Van Zaal develops and manufactures, supplies and maintains facilities for producers of vegetable and floricultural crops. Our areas of expertise for multidisciplinary project solutions are Greenhouses & constructions, Water systems, Cultivation systems, Heating & cooling systems, Electrical systems and Control systems and software. We also operate from an international office in Kenya. DLV Plant GreenQ DLV Plant GreenQ is a leading, independent international advisory and research partner for the horticultural sector. Its activities are aimed at advice, research and training in the Netherlands and abroad. DLV Plant GreenQ has more than 175 knowledge-driven consultants working worldwide, with offices in Africa, Latin America and Europe. Hoogendoorn Growth Management Hoogendoorn is known as innovative supplier of process automation in the horticultural industry. Our user-friendly irrigation, climate and energy software is customized for farms and open field projects in East Africa. To guarantee 24-hour service, maintenance and spare-parts, Hoogendoorn works together with local partners in Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa. Gakon Horticultural Projects Gakon Horticultural Projects is one of the leading greenhouse companies in Holland and specialises in Venlo greenhouses and heating systems on gas, oil, coal, biomass and (geo)thermal heating. We also build complete horticultural projects. The company has its own R&D- and engineering department and production facility. Harm Maters, President ABC Westland DB Poeldijk T +31 (0) F +31 (0) Gerard Peek, Director Bedrijvenweg 10 De Kwakel T F Nico de Groot, Project Manager PO Box CA Wageningen T +31 (0) P.O. Box AC Vlaardingen T +31 (0) Olaf Mos, Sales Director P.O. Box AA Wateringen T +31 (0) info@avag.nl info@bosmanvanzaal.com info@dlvplant.nl info@hoogendoorn.nl sales@gakon.nl growing solutions drive to innovate Horticoop Horticoop is active in the worldwide supply of horticultural products and services. Next to the current 14 locations in and 4 abroad, the company has an extensive network of distributors and agents in many countries. HortiMaX BV HortiMaX distinguishes itself by providing the best possible solution for every climate, offering tailor-made process automation solutions, climate, plant monitoring, irrigation & fertigation, disinfection, labor and productivity management systems. Besides conventional cultivation systems, HortiMaX also focuses on reducing the emission of CO 2 in greenhouse horticulture. Koppert BV Koppert Biological Systems contributes to the better health of people and the planet. In partnership with nature, we make agriculture healthier, safer and more productive. We provide an integrated system of specialist cultivation knowledge and natural, safe solutions that increase crop health, resilience and production. Ludvig Svensson BV Svensson is world leader in the production of climate screens for greenhouses. Svensson screens offer more effective control of the climate in the greenhouse, leading to more and better crops. They also save on energy-, water- and pesticide use. Ridder Drive Systems BV Ridder Drive Systems develops, produces and markets worldwide a complete range of electro-mechanical drive systems. Ridder s drive systems are known for their reliability, robustness, ease of installation and flexibility. Ridder provides a life-long guarantee on all motor gearboxes. Frank Combee, Export Area Manager P.O. Box ZJ Bleiswijk T +31 (0) F +31 (0) Jan Paul van den Tillaard, Marketing Manager P.O. Box AB Pijnacker T +31 (0) F +31 (0) Ard van der Maarel, Business Development Manager P.O. Box AD Berkel en Rodenrijs T +31 (0) Hugo Plaisier, Senior Consultant Marconiweg LV Hellevoetsluis T +31 (0) F +31 (0) Jan Paul van den Tillaard, Marketing Manager P.O. Box AJ Harderwijk T +31 (0) F +31 (0) info@horticoop.nl office@hortimax.nl Info@koppert.nl info.nl@svenssonglobal.com info@ridder.com Genap BV With over 60 years of experience Genap is a specialized, professional and innovative partner in the field of plastic foil applications including high quality storage systems for liquids, in particular water. The assortment of Genap includes silos, reservoirs, closed systems, anti-algae covers and offers both standard products and bespoke solutions. Bas Fortuin, Sales Manager P.O. Box AA s-heerenberg T +31 (0) F +31 (0) sales@genap.nl Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects Van der Hoeven is internationally recognized as one of the major players within the turn-key horticultural sector. Since 1953 we have been designing and realizing horticultural projects for investors, modern growers and developers all over the world, allowing them to gain the maximum returns from their investment. Peter Spaans, Director P.O. Box GC Delft T +31 (0) F +31 (0) info@vanderhoeven.nl 6 7

5 Partners for Growing Solutions Limuru Town Nairobi A 2 A 2 Ruiru Thika Connecting horticultural networks of the Netherlands & Kenya Athi River Latia Resource Center: GSK demonstration location The new demonstration project is situated at the Latia Resource Center, a social enterprise in agriculture founded by the Faraja Trust in Kenya. The Center provides training and business support services to farmers, pastoralists and agribusinesses in Kenya and Eastern Africa from the point of view that the modernization of agriculture and improvement in food security in Africa can be greatly facilitated by effective training, adequate dissemination of knowledge and provision of business support services. Kajiado Latia Resource Center Mombasa Latia Resource Center is located at Off Pipeline Road, 1,5 km west of Isinya Town, Kajiado county. Arusha Green Farming Growing Solutions Mr. Nico de Groot T: + 31 (0) (NL) M: +31 (0) (NL) M: +254 (0) (KE) This brochure is presented to you by: info@greenfarming.nl This publication is printed on FSC certified paper. September 2015