The Agriculture Box is a stress-free gardening solution for backyard it is durable against the strong sun and humidity encountered during the summer months in the UAE. It provides a gardening solution for those who do not have gardens and those who have been unable to tend to their gardens on hands and knees. Equipped with a detachable roof, the box can be used in any outdoor area and comes assembled with potting soil and an in-built irrigation system.

Agriculture Box brings organic farming into our own home, with a professional solution to grow our own organic vegetables, fruits & aromatic herbs. Such box comes equipped with soil made up of carefully selected mix of top soil, bio compost and organic fertilisers which help facilitate plant growth in dry climates.

This box also helps in saving water. It is equipped with the European irrigation system made of ultraviolet treated membranes that help save up to 80% of water as compared to conventional gardening. Amazing part is that it can be customized and fitted with a timer to water plants automatically during holidays. The timer runs either with batteries or by installing small solar panels.

Earlier, I had visited the LFIGP’s Agriculture Box in Sharjah, UAE, which is an Agro Gardening Autonomous System. From growing nothing but dates, cactuses and shrubs, Dubai now has 62 varieties of organic crops which include tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and legumes. It is unimaginable as to how these fruits and vegetables can grow in Dubai?s harsh weather conditions. But impossible is just another word, all thanks to this 45 centimeters high and 4 centimeters thick agriculture box it is now possible to grow the best organic food on our own!!!

Mr. Arnaud Fabre, the guide for the trip, explained me everything I needed to know about this agriculture box. First, he showed me the irrigation system that is present in the box. The water is provided from a porous pipe structure present beneath the soil, directly to the roots of the plants. This method is much more efficient than the drip irrigation method and conserves a lot of water. He also explained to me that the box is highly durable and has longevity which can last for more than 15-20 years. It is made out of European kiln dried white wood and each box costs around 4500 AED. It is worth investing because the outcomes obtained are amazing and profitable. I also got to know that organic food is the most powerful anti-cancerous substance known to man. Some of the plants which were growing in this weather condition were lemon basil, parsley, chilly and coriander. Next, he showed how the soil is prepared. The basic element required for the soil is compost. He showed me the Bokashi Japanese system which turns kitchen waste into compost using microorganisms like Lactobacillus Acidophilus. This compost along with soil is selected for the UAE’s arid climate which results in a really high quality yield. No such pesticides are used in this farming technique which produces vegetables of superior flavor and good for health.

Next, I got to know a lot of information about the life sustaining material, soil. One cup of soil contains 7 billion microorganisms. Mr. Fabre explained about the Clay-Humus Complex present in the soil. Fertilizers such as NPK (Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium) cause an imbalance in the ecosystem and mother nature. The earthworms which play a vital role in the formation of soil die because of such fertilizers also destroying the microorganisms in the soil and causing the three- way death of the soil, i.e., physically, chemically and biologically. This makes the soil dependent on NPK causing it to become red.

Reference: http://www.agriculturebox.com