This project investigates innovative approaches to potato cultivation in Rodrigues Island by comparing bag-based farming with traditional soil-based methods. Rodrigues faces significant agricultural challenges, including limited arable land, water scarcity, and vulnerability to climatic extremes. Bag-based cultivation, which utilizes grow bags filled with nutrient-rich soil, offers a promising solution by optimizing space, conserving water, and improving soil management.
Over a 12-month period, the study will evaluate both methods in terms of yield, plant health, pest and disease resistance, water usage, soil quality, and economic feasibility. Data will be collected through controlled trials, monitored with soil and water testing equipment, and analyzed using statistical methods. Beyond technical outcomes, the project emphasizes farmer empowerment through training workshops, manuals, and community outreach, ensuring knowledge transfer and adoption of sustainable practices.
Expected impacts include increased potato yield per unit area, improved resource efficiency, enhanced soil quality, and reduced reliance on imports, thereby strengthening food security and economic resilience in Rodrigues. The project also explores scalability of bag-based techniques to other root crops, such as turmeric, positioning Rodrigues as a pioneer in eco-friendly agricultural innovation.
