18 Jun 2018

Kiribati man keen to expand hydroponics

3:45 pm on 18 June 2018
Eritai Kateibwi works hard to promote hydroponics on Kiribati.

Eritai Kateibwi works hard to promote hydroponics on Kiribati. Photo: Supplied

A Kiribati man has come up with an ambitious target to get every family in Kiribati growing plants and vegetables hydroponically.

Hydroponics uses mineral nutrient rich water instead of soil to grow plants.

Eritai Kateibwi launched his business with 500 hydroponic units using a UN start-up grant he won last year.

He said in just one month, he has installed 20 units for more than 10 families and has helped train them up.

"That's our vision, we want to install at least two units per family and it will go really fast if we get the word out there right now."

Eritai Kateibwi said he first learned about hydroponics when studying in the United States.

He said it is his passion to teach others back in Kiribati home to 115,000 people and densely populated in some parts.