Kamil Muslim College in Yalalevu, Ba, is leading an initiative to supply the local community with fresh leafy vegetables by establishing nurseries and selling their produce.
Assistant mathematics and physics teacher Rinal Prasad emphasized that this project will also generate income for the school.
“Our vision is to make Kamil Muslim College a sustainability hub, and we plan to engage in all green projects. Previously, we implemented a Bio duster and installed both on-grid and off-grid solar panels,” he said.
He mentioned that the school had already installed hydroponic systems.
“We have expanded our beehive farm and now plan to use hydroponics to provide fresh leafy vegetables to students and nearby communities. With over 5000 residents nearby, we aim to expand this hydroponics initiative,” he said.
He added that long-term plans include scaling up to approximately 400 plants per month.
“We intend to purchase the remaining seedlings from Go Global, where prices range from 15 to 20 cents per seedling. Once the lettuce or other vegetables are ready, we aim to sell them for $2 to $2.50 each, depending on size,” he said.
“There are numerous advantages. Although the initial setup cost is high, it becomes easier and more beneficial over time. We use nutrient-based water and operate without soil, as it’s hydroponics. It falls under horticulture and is a subset of hydroculture. We have started with lettuce and plan to cultivate cabbage and other vegetables like coriander.”