‘Backyard gardening provided food security during pandemic’
Growing your own foods and vegetable is motto entrepreneur Rinesh Sharma lives by during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While families adapt to the changes brought by the pandemic, the young lad continued to use up the idle time to work on his backyard farming.
He said having a backyard garden helped achieve food security during the pandemic.
Hydroponic kit
Mr Sharma developed a small hydroponic kit for his small business Smart Farms Fiji.
The small hydroponic kit was used by families to grow essential crops right at home effortlessly.
“We have learnt so much from this pandemic, one of it is how much we rely on Agriculture for food security. When everything was in lockdown, the prices of vegetables was high so
the demand but the supply was a bit low. That showed how much we have relied on farmers for our vegetables and food,” he said.
He added that the pandemic has also made people realise the importance of making use of idle land for farming.
He said many families have started backyard farming which was good to see.
“A lot of young people and youth groups started to clear idle land to start farming which is good because they have the potential to become entrepreneurs and have their own farm to support themselves,” said Mr Sharma.
Farming post-COVID
Mr Sharma said the business of doing farming has slightly changed during the pandemic.
“I believe that the future of farming is hydroponic, aeroponics and aquaponics. Times are changing and if we stick to old methods of farming. we all always be vulnerable.
“With unprecedented natural calamities, local farmers lose out crops, their time and effort that is never accounted for. with hydroponics, most of the parameters are controlled by the grower, hence ensuring a consistent supply,” he said.