INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Farmers in the Philippines have been using chemical fertilizers, pesticides and growth

regulators in their crop production strategies. Despite the high cost of these inputs, and the

farmers' awareness that they can adversely affect soil fertility, food quality, human and animal

health, and environmental quality, they are used extensively because there are few alternatives

that would be considered practical and feasible. One reason for this is that university-based

research has strongly promoted the use of agricultural chemicals as the best means of achieving

the highest possible crop yields. The predominant question then is how can the farmers shift

from a chemical-intensive agriculture to one that is based on the utilization of natural systems,

and still maintain their economic Viability. It is encouraging that there are some efforts now

underway by university researchers, the Philippine government, and the private sector to develop

nature farming as an alternative to chemical-based agriculture. The government, in cooperation

with non-government agencies, needs to set forth certain policy initiatives that would promote

the necessary research for the development of productive, profitable, and sustainable natural

farming systems, and to ensure that such knowledge is transferred effectively to the farmers.

Soil-based cultivation is now facing difficulties due to man-made reasons such as

deforestation, industrialization and urbanization. But the main agricultural problem here in the

Philippines is soil erosion that is primarily caused by rainfall under upland, subsistence rainfed

farming. Farmers nowadays are having difficulties in planting crops cause their fields are

gradually getting eroded. These problems can be decreased if farmers used a soilless based

cultivation that only consists of water and specific nutrients to plant their crops.
 As of today, land is becoming more and more limited here in the Philippines or heavily

contaminated. Most farmers prefer to use chemicals to keep weeds and pests from destroying

their crops and to add more nutrients to the soil which is damaging our ecosystem polluting the

air, water and soil.

Manila-based Agri-Tech and urban farming company Urban Greens is announcing a

project tie-up with the Bonifacio Arts Foundation under the direction of the head curator of The

Mind Museum, who oversees all things art- and science-related in BGC.

The project is based on the creation of a prototype hydroponic setup within the premises

of The Mind Museum science museum, to show off futuristic farming techniques like

hydroponics to grow clean and healthy greens right in the heart of the city space.

As of 2018, Urban Greens has been building a prototype farm in collaboration with the

Bafi. Based on its modular and scalable nature, it has the potential to be developed on a much

bigger scale supplying produce to establishments and residents within Bonifacio Global City and

neighboring communities. Other projects of the company include a partnership with a major real

estate developer. Urban Greens envisions that hydroponic urban farming will evolve the

Philippine vegetable food scene and provide a sustainable addition to our communities.

Urban Greens’ mission is to evolve the vegetable food scene in the Philippines by

introducing cleaner and smarter grown greens – all grown hydroponically.

Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without soil.

 As we use only water, there is no need for pesticides, fertilizers or fungicides and we use

much less water than conventional farming. Not needing soil or land-space makes it perfect for

the urban setting.

In addition, our greens are able to grow indoors or outdoors near you. Thus, dramatically

reducing the time and energy used in transportation, resulting in cheaper, fresher and tastier

greens. Our vision is to bring this technology to urban centers around the world.

Statement of the problem

The system aims to develop a program that can sense and measure the water temperature

needed to maintain the plants properly and to measure also the exact amount of hydroponic nutrient

solution to fill in the water so that the roots can come into contact for its growth.