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Gov’t allocates $7M to boost hydroponics and aquaponic agriculture

The Department of Economic Development and Commerce announced the assignment of $7 million to facilitate the recovery and development of hydroponics and aquaponic structures.

Agency Secretary Manuel Laboy explained the money comes from the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Co.’s, (known as PRIDCO,) Special Economic Development Fund.

“I am pleased to announce the start of the hydroponics program, which responds to the need to give a push to redevelop the industry, which was one of the most affected areas in agriculture in the wake of Hurricane María,” Laboy said.

“It’s a very special project because it addresses several immediate needs to increase food production capacity, an extremely important matter for the people of Puerto Rico,” he said.

“And that will open doors to also increase export opportunities and economic development through agriculture,” said Laboy, who also heads PRIDCO

The announcement came as Laboy signed an administrative order during a visit to the Cartinami farm in Lares, to start the hydroponic program to help those farmers, as well as those using aquaponic growth methods, to strengthen the development of their businesses post-storm.

The funds will be allocated as follows: participating farmers will receive a 75 percent refund, up to $300,000, for projects by established farmers looking to rebuild their productive structures or for projects to improve efficiency through automation; while projects by new farmers looking to establish operations will receive a 50 percent refund, up to $250,000, of their investment, Laboy said.

He specified that the incentive may be used as collateral for financing for the planned project and can be combined with federal incentives, but not with incentives from the local Agriculture Department, or its affiliates.

He added that to facilitate the resilience of hydroponics in case of another hurricane, the agency’s project establishes a special $2 per square foot lease rate for the use of PRIDCO-owned buildings to develop hydroponic or aquaponic farming projects. Furthermore, the government’s Renewable Energy Fund will offer farmers alternatives to adopt sustainable infrastructure and improve production costs.

“We recognize the important contribution that this administrative order makes to hydroponic farmers and to the role of agriculture in the island’s economic development,” Agriculture Secretary Carlos Flores said.

“For the department, this initiative is a valuable contribution to the recovery of our producers and the goal we have set, to double local agricultural production,” he added.

According to data gathered from a survey conducted in September by Hidroponistas PR, LLC., hydroponic structures were severely affected by Hurricane María and one year after its passage, only 37 percent have achieved partial recovery of their.

This reduction in production capacity increased the dependence on fresh imported and a reduction in capital for Puerto Rico associated with the lost sales, the survey noted.

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This story was written by our staff based on a press release.
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3 Comments

  1. Richard R Tryon October 17, 2018

    The future in P.R. for vertical farming is bright for two big reasons: a) there is abundant Sun light; and b) our inexpensive vertical rotating plant carriers can outperform the same square feet of dirt many times over each year! Low capital cost for long lasting but slow rotating plants can share sun, and shade, grow best using fish waste water, and survive hurricanes by easy means of removing bug/bird coverings and let the wind blow through the guy wired frameworks.

    Unfortunately, PR lost its PVC pipe manufacturing a few years ago. Importing can cost more for shipping and customs than the part cost, unless the P.R. government wants to grant tax exemption and artificial valuation games with customs. Perhaps someone knows how to create a tax exempt importing of materials for manufacturing to sell to all in need of way to survive by growing food for their families.

    Reply
  2. Richard R. Tryon October 17, 2018

    If P.R. wants to have a low cost factory producing both vertical farm towers and food for export or local consumption or use, someone needs to offer a way for manufacturing to import PVC pipe and fittings not made in P.R. on tax exempt basis that also eliminated artificial valuations by Custom Dept approach.

    If it is happening, I will provide the place for it to happen!

    Reply
  3. James January 20, 2019

    we are living at a moment of time when less agricultural land is available for growing food. Genetically modified crops are available, we can grow our own food using
    Aquaponic/hydroponics. The first method did not require any food for plants as fish wastes will be used as a plant nutrient.
    Aquaponics system is a ray of hope for our increased population.

    Reply

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