11 October 2012
SALALAH -- Agriculture scientists were elated over the success of Waterboxx way of plantation, which has been developed by Dutch scientist Pieter Hoff.
The experts did a follow up of the plantation done using this technology in Salalah a few months ago.
Hoff's technology, according to them, is the best suited for countries having tough climatic condition.
Experts, who made presentations on various fog related topics during recently concluded conference on 'fog harvesting' in Salalah, made it clear that proper vegetation is possible even in arid climates like Oman by following Waterboxx way of plantation.
They also tried to convince the audience that the technology, which is a breakthrough to a modern and sustainable way of planting, is effective even without the use of energy and scarce ground water.
Mohamed Mustafa al Lawati of Al Saleh Group is the Waterboxx project partner of in Oman. In his presentation he deliberated upon the technology and said: "Dutch company Ample Harvest has successfully introduced the technology in the Sultanate. The technology's name is Groasis, which has been patented by Pieter Hoff as Waterboxx."
"The Groasis Waterboxx is an 'intelligent water incubator' that produces and captures water from the air through condensation and rain. The condensation is caused by artificial stimulation and the water is captured because of the design of the device, without using energy.
This technology is a copy of how Mother Nature solves the problem of planting plants. Waterboxx makes it possible to plant trees or bushes on rocks, on mountains, in gardens, in ashes of recently burned woods, eroded areas or deserts or any other place, without the help of irrigation with a 100 per cent success rate," he said.
Agriculture expert, Clive Winbow, who is also associated with the project, termed the technology "very successful in Oman."
"We have encouraging results from Sohar, Al Amerat and Salalah. We chose the sites of Sohar and Al Amerat as test cases, as both the places are known for tough climate for plantation. And our success rate at both the places is more than 70 per cent," he said and added that successful trial run had also been done in Salalah in association with Dhofar University.
Hoff's technology is a copy of nature's way of solving the problem of growing plants in deserts, eroded areas, bad lands as also on rocks. This way, the experts are hopeful of replanting man-made deserts or eroded areas.
They are hopeful of restoring the vegetation cover and make them productive with trees for fruit and wood, vegetables, and bushes with seeds and berries for both man and wildlife.
SALALAH -- Agriculture scientists were elated over the success of Waterboxx way of plantation, which has been developed by Dutch scientist Pieter Hoff.
The experts did a follow up of the plantation done using this technology in Salalah a few months ago.
Hoff's technology, according to them, is the best suited for countries having tough climatic condition.
Experts, who made presentations on various fog related topics during recently concluded conference on 'fog harvesting' in Salalah, made it clear that proper vegetation is possible even in arid climates like Oman by following Waterboxx way of plantation.
They also tried to convince the audience that the technology, which is a breakthrough to a modern and sustainable way of planting, is effective even without the use of energy and scarce ground water.
Mohamed Mustafa al Lawati of Al Saleh Group is the Waterboxx project partner of in Oman. In his presentation he deliberated upon the technology and said: "Dutch company Ample Harvest has successfully introduced the technology in the Sultanate. The technology's name is Groasis, which has been patented by Pieter Hoff as Waterboxx."
"The Groasis Waterboxx is an 'intelligent water incubator' that produces and captures water from the air through condensation and rain. The condensation is caused by artificial stimulation and the water is captured because of the design of the device, without using energy.
This technology is a copy of how Mother Nature solves the problem of planting plants. Waterboxx makes it possible to plant trees or bushes on rocks, on mountains, in gardens, in ashes of recently burned woods, eroded areas or deserts or any other place, without the help of irrigation with a 100 per cent success rate," he said.
Agriculture expert, Clive Winbow, who is also associated with the project, termed the technology "very successful in Oman."
"We have encouraging results from Sohar, Al Amerat and Salalah. We chose the sites of Sohar and Al Amerat as test cases, as both the places are known for tough climate for plantation. And our success rate at both the places is more than 70 per cent," he said and added that successful trial run had also been done in Salalah in association with Dhofar University.
Hoff's technology is a copy of nature's way of solving the problem of growing plants in deserts, eroded areas, bad lands as also on rocks. This way, the experts are hopeful of replanting man-made deserts or eroded areas.
They are hopeful of restoring the vegetation cover and make them productive with trees for fruit and wood, vegetables, and bushes with seeds and berries for both man and wildlife.
© Oman Daily Observer 2012
