New Hydroponic Training Facility Opens at Orange Hill

By S.Browne. Updated 10:50 a.m., Friday, June 26, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

A new hydroponic training and demonstration facility has been established at Orange Hill as part of efforts to strengthen climate-smart agriculture, improve local vegetable production and equip farmers with skills to adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

The facility, developed through a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Transformation, features a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic system housed within a greenhouse at the Orange Hill Agricultural Station. The installation was completed during a FAO technical mission conducted from June 1st to 9th under the project, Building Effective Public-Private Partnerships for Production and Marketing of Sustainable Agricultural Products.

While hydroponic technology is not new to St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Orange Hill facility is expected to serve as a dedicated training and demonstration platform aimed at expanding knowledge of protected agriculture and climate-smart vegetable production among farmers, technicians and aspiring agricultural entrepreneurs. Previous FAO-supported hydroponic systems have already been introduced at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) to support agricultural education and practical training.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Colville King, said the initiative aligns with the Government’s efforts to build a more resilient agricultural sector.

“As we continue to confront the challenges posed by climate change, it is essential that we invest in production systems that make more efficient use of our limited resources while strengthening our capacity to produce food locally.”

King said technologies such as hydroponics can help farmers adapt to changing weather conditions while improving productivity.

The NFT system allows a thin stream of nutrient-rich water to flow continuously around plant roots, reducing water use and fertiliser waste while supporting efficient crop production. Similar systems have been promoted internationally as climate-smart solutions capable of producing crops with significantly less water than conventional farming methods.

FAO Lead Technical Officer Mr Juan Cheaz said the project extends beyond increasing production.

“Our objective is not simply to help produce more vegetables, but to ensure that farmers are producing crops that meet market demand.”

He added that stronger production systems could help local producers access higher-value markets, including opportunities within the tourism industry.

The facility has been designed using locally available materials and incorporates solar energy to reduce operating costs. According to project officials, it will function as both a learning centre and a testing ground for future hydroponic development

A training session held on June 9 attracted 57 participants, including Ministry technicians, farmers, students of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College and young agri-entrepreneurs. The programme focused on nutrient management, fertiliser preparation and practical hydroponic production techniques.

FAO Protected Agriculture Specialist Mr Jervis Rowe said the technology offers several advantages for small-scale producers.

“NFT hydroponics allows producers to grow more crops in a smaller space while using significantly less water and fertiliser than conventional open-field production.”

Rowe said the controlled environment also contributes to improved crop quality, consistency and yields.

The hydroponic installation comes amid broader efforts to modernise agriculture at Orange Hill, where a climate-controlled greenhouse valued at more than EC$1 million was recently commissioned through the Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project.

Project Coordinator Mr Jefferson Jaikissoon said the facility will provide an opportunity to assess the performance of systems constructed from locally sourced materials before a second NFT system using imported components is introduced.

“This practical training platform will generate valuable lessons on NFT systems made from locally sourced materials.”

Jaikissoon said future comparisons between the two systems would help identify solutions that can be replicated under local conditions.

As St Vincent and the Grenadines continues to pursue greater food security and agricultural resilience, officials hope the facility will help build a new generation of producers capable of adopting technologies that make farming more efficient, sustainable and responsive to the realities of climate change.

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