Aquaponics (Ongoing)
Aquaponics is a method for cultivating plants and farming fish in a closed environment, where the plants utilize the nutrient rich water generated by the fish. Water scarcity is a huge problem many places in the India. Aquaponics uses 90% less water compared with conventional farming methods, because the water is filtered and reused in the closed environment.
The fish provide the nutrient, which soil normally provide. The nutrient rich water is pumped into the plant bed where the plants take up the nutrition and filters the water which is sent down to the fish tank again.
Each aquaponic system can annually produce more than 200 kg of vegetables, and more than 50 kg of fish.
Many of the people in the families are illiterate. Our units are easy to operate. Even the children are able to run it after installation. The children also enjoy looking after the fish and the plants. This is a great way to teach children about sustainability. It is easy to understand that poisonous pesticides are harmful for the fish. The fish will die. Thus, we are teaching the new generation to avoid these obsolete methods.
Bija provides continuously follow-up of the families and the units. Sometimes the small pump used needs cleaning. We test the water quality and and take necessary steps to keep the water quality as good as possible.
We sometimes have challenges like rainfall, sunlight and animals that can disturb the system. The families and Bija are continuously looking for solutions to these challenges.
Bija has installed 38 units in homes of underprivileged families in the villages Nachiyapuram, Kambanoor, Vadugapatti and Koratti in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. We interview the families in the villages to insure we find the right people who will insure optimal results of the systems. Then we build and install the units, as well as give the right training. The area suffers highly from drought and our units will ease their situation and provide vegetables and fish despite the difficult water situation.
With IBC Aquaponics the family can spend less money on buying food. Aquaponics provide a healthy diet for the family, meaning the family can spend less money on healthcare.
1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
Aquaponics produces fish and vegetables. It sustains the family with high quality nutritious food. IBC Aquaponics can produce approximately 50+kg fish and 200+kg vegetables yearly.
2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
Good health and well-being is insured when your food is not contaminated by toxic spraying agents.
3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination
Aquaponics increase water-use efficiency with 90% because the system is a circular Eco-environment that filters and reuse the water.
6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity
Aquaponics have no need of farmland. It can be utilized in cities, in store buildings, on rooftops and on rock or land not suited for farming. Thus, we protect forest from being cut down and prevent land deprivation.
15.0 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity
