CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

RATIONALE OF THE STUDY

Just because we have always done things one way, it does not mean that is the

best way. This holds true in all aspects of life and it’s either slowing us down or improve

mankind’s capability to grow. In the field of agriculture, it is inevitable that at some point

there would be imbalance in the demand and supply considering the former is drastically

increasing. At some point, water would be scarce, lands would not be arable, and the

demand would only grow higher considering the rising population. Technology has been

helping us improve farming, from chemical fertilizers and pesticides which are of much

help in the crops process of yielding down to mechanical engineering that help farmers

double their time on planting and harvesting. However, all these methods of

improvements are just inclusions to the tradional form of planting crops in dirt, watering

them occasionally and waiting for them to grow. Indeed, traditional farming made a

massive impact in man’s survivability, producing a load amount of crops to sustain our

basic necessities. But it is not without problems.

A radical approach on farming emerged in order to cater the paucity of natural

resources like arable lands and water, aquaponics. In aquaponics, soil is almost not

needed into growing crops unless you want to design a system which purifies running

water back to the fish den using soil, and it eliminates the use of fertilizers that may harm

both the soil and the crops (Flavius & Grozea, 2011). This kind of system is like a segue

to the standard form of planting, an approach that could benefit and improve the flaws of

traditional planting. Aquaponics is a method of growing plants, particularly vegetables, in

a soilless medium where all the nutrients that the plants require to grow are provided via

water that is circulated around the plants root systems. It is a combination of

hydroponics and aquaculture, a farmer could grow crops and at the same time raise

fishes (The Aquaponic Source, 2017).

We are all aware that our environment is experiencing challenges, and these

challenges will definitely affect our lives. Challenges like pollution, change in weather,

scarcity of water and many more. The City of Mati, Davao Oriental, is not of exception,

even in the water distribution of the barangays, residents are having a hard time

collecting water. This problem is one of the many root causes why farmers in the city are

not able to grow a big scale of crops despite that said city is fortunate to have a rich soil.

Another concern would be traditional agriculture, whether industrial farms or even local

organic farming, the issue would be the use of water; soil grown crops require large

amounts of water to grow. Much of this water is lost to runoff as well as evaporation

during application, and it all comes down to scarcity and how to cope up considering that

water is a precious commodity. In order for a city to be independent both in the world of

agriculture and marketing, it would be preferrable to have their resources within their

vicinity. With this, aquaponics is one of the best solutions.

This study aims to distinguish the viability of a solar powered aquaponics facility

in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental, considering we are to explore something so radically

different to provide something so essential as food. If aquaponics can replace a segment

of traditional agriculture, this could be a turning point in human history, enabling

significant increases in food production, as well as reducing environmental impact on an

already stressed planet.

Significance of the Study

This feasibility study will serve as a basis for the future plans of actions by the

Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, especially the Provincial Agriculture in

developing their tilapia den. Among the persons who will directly or indirectly gain benefit

are the following:

1. To the Provincial Agriculture Office. They can use this study as basis for

future plans in developing their tilapia den and further increase knowledge in

the aquaponics system.

2. To the Farmers. This study may serve as a basis for additional knowledge in

farming and may help them develop a new approach on farming.

3. To the Schools. They can use this study as a basis for future development

on school activities and projects like Gulayan sa Paaralan of the Department

of Education.

4. To Private Enterpreneur. This study will serve as their basis for future

investments and marketing ideas.

5. To Future Researchers. This study will serve as an additional input for

related topics and will provide them the facts needed to compare their study

during their respective time and usability.

Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study is to design a facility that can produce both crops

and fishes with resources usage less than that of the traditional farming.

1. To design a facility that can grow surmountable amount of crops using the

aquaponics system.

2. To design a fish tank suitable for the aquaponics system and a pumping system

to efficiently transfer and collect the excrements of the fresh water fishes.

3. To determine the economic viability of a solar powered aquaponics facility.

Scope and Delimitation

This study is conducted to determine the economic viability of having a solar

powered aquaponics facility in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental, and this research is

directed to the Provinicial Agriculture Office, farmers and other interested groups. The

study will be at the Provincial Agriculture Office tilapia den, as we aim to upgrade their

current area to a much productive one using the aquaponics system. The study will be

delimited to designing the facility as well as the system. Hence, the researchers’ focal

point is in the engineering processes and not on the detailed agricultural productivity.

The researchers’ will also gather data on the in demand crops in the City of Mati,

Davao Oriental as well as the fresh water fishes and its current value. The current state

of the said city will also be of focus particularly the availability of water.
Conceptual Framework

This conceptual framework has three categories namely the Input, Throughput

and Output. The Input is the data gathered in our study. The Throughput is the

implementation of our study. The Output is the result of our study.

Input Throughput Output

Field Investigation & Data Preparatory Measures on

Collection the Design and Economic

Feasibility

 Site Details and  Design Aquaponics

Topographic Survey Facility

 Existing Structures and
Sample Design
 Production Monitoring
Reports
SolarPowered
 Fish Tank and Piping
Aquaponics Facility in
System Design
the City of Mati Design
 Management Aspects
and Economic Viability
 Marketing and Financial

Investigation

 Analysis on the Design

and Economic Viability

of the Aquaponics

System

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework Diagram

Definition of Terms

Throughout this paper the following terms shall be used. For clarity and common

understanding of these terms, they are defined both conceptually and operationally.

Aquaponics- is a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or

other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn

purify the water.

Aquaculture- is the cultivation of aquatic animals and plants, especially fish, shellfish

and seaweed in a natural or controlled marine or fresh water environments.

Hydroponics- is the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added

nutrients but without soil.

Nitrifying Bacteria- any of various soil bacteria that change ammonia or ammonium

intro nitrite or change nitrite into nitrate as part of the nitrogen cycle.

Vermicompost- contains water-soluble nutrients and is an excellent, nutrient-

rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. It is used in farming and small scale

sustainable, organic farming.

Herbicides- a substance that is toxic to plants and is used to destroy unwanted

vegetation.

Photovoltaic Cells- is a specialized semiconductor diode that converts visible light into

direct current (DC). It is also an integral part of solar-electric energy systems, which are

becoming increasingly important as alternative sources of utility power.

pH Level- ph stand for “Potential of Hydrogen” and it is a measure of acidity or alkalinity

of water soluble substances. A pH value is a number from 1 to 14, with 7 as the mid

(neutral) point. Values below 7 indicate acidity which increases as the number

decreases, 1 being the most acidic. Values above 7 indicate alkalinity which increases

as the number increases, 14 being the most alkaline. This scale, however, is not a linear

scale like a centimeter or inch scale (in which two adjacent values have the same

difference). It is a logarithmic scale in which two adjacent values increase or decrease

by a factor of 10.

Node- is a configuration that links one fish tank to a certain number of hydroponic beds.

Arable Lands- are lands capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.

PAGRI- Provincial Agriculture