In a recent chat with Nigerian farmers, agriculture expert Paschal Nnaemeka talked about how to balance new soilless farming technology with the use of Nigeria’s large, unused farmlands. Nnaemeka pointed out that while methods like hydroponics and aeroponics have benefits like using less water and growing crops faster, they shouldn’t take the spotlight away from using our available land effectively.

Nnaemeka stressed, “We need to focus on making the most of the land we already have. There’s so much potential in our unused land that we should be tapping into to ensure food security and a strong farming sector.”

He also mentioned that soilless farming can be expensive and complex, which might be tough for small farmers. His advice? Use both traditional farming and new technologies together for the best results.

“New technology is great, but we shouldn’t forget about improving our traditional methods,” he said. “Finding a balance will help make our farming sector more productive and resilient.”

Nnaemeka’s comments offer a practical approach for farmers as they consider how to adopt new technologies while making the most of their current resources.