Potential for home-use hydroponic systems to increase food security in Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas

Abstract

Historically, the development of food security in the Bahamas has been a challenge. Lack of fertile soil among the islands has hindered the growth of agricultural practices, leading to reliance on food imports for availability and consumption. As a potential solution for improving food security in the Bahamas, the economic viability of simplified hydroponics systems was investigated. Cape Eleuthera was used as a case study for implementing a home-use hydroponics initiative. Data from census, field studies, and examination of model hydroponic systems were obtained to determine preliminary implementation costs. Analysis of the occupied households residing in Eleuthera along with the projected cost of the model systems showed the initial investment cost for all households on Cape Eleuthera to have simplified hydroponic systems to be between $135,900 and $217,440. The relatively low start-up cost in combination with effective implementation and education strategies could make the application of home-use hydroponic systems on Cape Eleuthera a potential solution to increasing food security on the island.