In December 2024, the INCiTiS-FOOD project launched its first Open Call, inviting external consortia to propose solutions based on circular agri-food technologies implemented within the project. The aim was to support practical, locally grounded projects that apply approaches such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and insect farming in real conditions. Selected consortia receive funding to implement their ideas and contribute to more sustainable city-region food systems.
Among the selected projects is Sustainable Aquaponics, Aquaculture, and Hydroponics for Rural Development (SAAHRD), implemented in the Yoni community in Sierra Leone. The project combines fish farming and soilless vegetable production to improve access to fresh food, create economic opportunities, and introduce agricultural practices that use water and other resources more efficiently.
By establishing a half-hectare farm and providing practical training for local residents, SAAHRD aims to demonstrate how integrated farming systems can support food security and rural development in communities affected by climate change, water scarcity, unemployment, and limited access to productive agricultural land.
Connecting Fish and Vegetable Production
At the centre of SAAHRD is an integrated aquaponics system that connects fish farming with vegetable production.
Fish such as tilapia and catfish will be raised in a recirculating aquaculture system. As the fish grow, the water in their tanks accumulates nutrient-rich waste. Instead of discarding this water, the system directs it towards hydroponically grown vegetables, where the nutrients support plant growth.
The plants and associated microorganisms help filter the water before it is returned to the fish tanks. This creates a circular process in which water and nutrients are continuously reused across the farm.
The project plans to grow vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, okra, and cabbage alongside its fish production. By integrating these activities, the farm can produce both animal protein and fresh vegetables while reducing waste and limiting the amount of water needed compared with conventional production methods.
The system will be supported by solar-powered pumps and automated monitoring equipment. Internet of Things technologies will enable the project team to collect real-time information about water quality, temperature, fish health, and plant growth, helping maintain suitable production conditions and identify potential problems early.
Producing Fresh Food Throughout the Year
The Yoni community faces a number of interconnected challenges, including food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty, unemployment, water shortages, and the growing effects of climate change. Traditional farming is highly dependent on seasonal rainfall, while even swamp areas can dry out during the dry season.
These conditions make it difficult for farmers to produce sufficient quantities of food throughout the year. Access to fresh vegetables and fish is limited, while economic opportunities connected to sustainable agriculture remain scarce.
Hydroponic and recirculating aquaculture systems offer an alternative by allowing food to be produced with more controlled and efficient use of water. Because the water circulates within the system, the farm is less dependent on continuous access to large quantities of water and can maintain production during periods when conventional farming is particularly difficult.
Within its first year of operation, SAAHRD aims to produce up to 10,000 kilograms of fish and 20,000 kilograms of vegetables annually. The products will be offered to local households, supermarkets, restaurants, and other buyers, increasing access to fresh food while responding to growing local demand.
Through this combination of fish and vegetable production, the project seeks to contribute to healthier diets and strengthen the availability of locally produced food.
Creating Skills and Economic Opportunities
SAAHRD is not only establishing a farm. It is also creating a practical environment in which community members can learn how to operate and benefit from sustainable food production systems.
Local farmers and residents will receive training in aquaculture, aquaponics, hydroponic crop production, water-quality management, and the use of monitoring technologies. Schools and colleges in the surrounding area will also be invited to learn about the systems, helping introduce students to new agricultural technologies and potential career paths.
The farm is expected to create at least five full-time jobs, alongside additional opportunities connected to production, distribution, sales, equipment maintenance, and other supporting activities.
Women’s participation is another important part of the project. Through training, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities, SAAHRD will support women interested in developing skills and becoming more actively involved in local food production and agricultural businesses.
By combining technical knowledge with practical experience, the project aims to help participants gain the confidence and skills required to apply these technologies, develop new income-generating activities, and share what they learn with others in the community.
Conserving Water and Reducing Environmental Impact
Aquaculture and crop production can place considerable pressure on local water, land, and soil resources when they are not managed sustainably. Conventional fish farming may generate polluted wastewater, while traditional crop production can be affected by soil degradation and the excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides. SAAHRD is designed to reduce these impacts through water recirculation, nutrient reuse, renewable energy, and more controlled growing conditions.
Water from the fish tanks will provide nutrients for the plants rather than being released into the surrounding environment. Once filtered through the growing system, it will return to the fish tanks and be used again. This closed-loop approach reduces both water consumption and waste while limiting the need for external fertilisers.
Solar-powered pumps will further reduce the farm’s dependence on conventional energy sources. Automated monitoring will help the project use water, energy, and nutrients more precisely, improving production efficiency and supporting the health of both fish and plants.
Together, these technologies demonstrate how rural food production can become more resilient to climate and resource constraints while maintaining a smaller environmental footprint.
The Partners Behind the Project
SAAHRD is implemented by a consortium of three organisations combining community development, aquaculture experience, technical education, and market outreach.
- Organization for Peace Reconciliation and Development Sierra Leone (OPARD/SL) leads the consortium and coordinates the project’s implementation in the Yoni community. The organisation has experience in community development and locally based environmental and agricultural activities, including tree planting, crop and vegetable production, poultry rearing, and the construction of natural fishponds. Through SAAHRD, OPARD/SL will build on this experience by introducing integrated systems that can support more reliable year-round production.
- TIVAMYA LIMITED contributes practical expertise in fish farming and aquaculture. The company has operated a fish farm and trained close to 200 fish farmers. Within SAAHRD, it will support fish production and contribute to the distribution, market outreach, and commercialisation of the farm’s fish and vegetables.
- Government Technical Institute Moyamba (GTI Moyamba) brings expertise in aquaculture, fisheries, and technical education. The institute has more than six years of training experience and has reached close to 500 students. It will contribute technical support, research, and capacity-building activities, helping connect the project with students and other learners interested in sustainable agriculture and aquaculture.
Together, the three partners connect community engagement, practical farming experience, technical training, and market development to support the long-term operation of the farm.
Add a Comment