COST ASSESSMENT FOR IMPLEMENTING VERTICAL HYDROPONIC CULTIVATION IN RADISH (RAPHANUS SATIVUS) PRODUCTION - FAMILY VERTICAL FARMING

Rondán-Sanabria G.G.; Castillo Peñaloza D.O.; Velásquez Choque M.B.; Velarde Allazo E.A. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2023) · DOI: 10.18687/leird2023.1.1.509

Resumen

Family vertical farming represents an innovative approach to food cultivation, utilizing stacked layers or shelves within buildings or homes to make the most of limited space. This method allows for enhanced control over agrochemical usage and the efficient utilization of resources like water, nutrients, and energy, ultimately resulting in a substantial decrease in operational expenses. From this standpoint, the objective of this study was to evaluate the expenses associated with setting up a hydroponic system on both extensive and limited scales as an innovative cultivation method devoid of pesticide use. To achieve this goal, a prototype of a vertical hydroponic system spanning around 1m2 was built, yielding a harvest of 240 elongated radishes with an average weight of 15g. Meanwhile, the leaves showcased an average leaf area of 160 cm2. While the results were satisfactory, the necessity for improving bulb development is recognized. This prototype had an initial cost of $246.55. However, when projecting this investment to a larger scale for an area of 25 m2, it was estimated that a total of 12, 000 radishes could be obtained in a single harvest, as demonstrated in the prototype. The economic results support the viability of the project, as the Net Present Value (NPV) is $21, 725.03, the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 78%, and the cost-benefit ratio is 3.44

Instituciones: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú