Capacitación teórico-práctica a productores para la producción de forraje verde hidropónico.

Abstract

One of the axes of attention linked to the satisfaction of needs identified in the DIFerente Community Program is the participation of producers, aimed at improving and strengthening their work methods, through a change in knowledge, skills, and aptitudes, which allows them to grow in its productive unit. Supported by professional service providers, through participatory training, productive techniques were developed, in the short term, with low operating costs, and high production yields. 20 theoretical-practical courses were implemented during the years 2011 to 2014, aimed at low-income producers in extreme poverty communities, which allowed them to access the production of forage to supply their backyard livestock. To satisfy the demand for meat, milk, and eggs, it is necessary to produce forage with high nutritional and energy content, at low costs and in the shortest time. With the hydroponic green forage technique, which does not require large volumes of water and the use of soil, a technology with great ecological content and sustainability is developed, which allows low-income producers to reduce their production costs. The hydroponic green forage obtained in the 20 training courses developed required the use of seeds with high germination power (certified category), without pesticide treatment; as well as materials from the region for the establishment of shelves (wood, iron, aluminum, plastic, sticks or poles), the occupation of idle infrastructure, which only required minimal adaptation (rooms, warehouses, sheds, chicken coops, barns, mangers or greenhouses) and the use of artificial lighting, a nutrient solution and little water. The trays for planting and production were made of recycled plastic, with dimensions of 90 centimeters long by 60 centimeters wide and 4 centimeters high, perforated throughout the base with a 1/8-inch drill bit, for drainage. In establishing the forage production module, good access was sought for transporting the production and its proximity to the livestock, as well as the availability of water and electrical energy. To manage the module, good ventilation, humidity, light, and temperature were required, as well as the placement of a sanitary mat at its entrance. The number of production trays was according to the function of the number of cattle that each group of producers had. The production of hydroponic green forage makes it possible to have food throughout the year to feed backyard livestock, at a low cost and bring down prolonged dry periods.