Development and implementation of aquaponic systems as a sustainable alternative in the Sabanilla parish, Guayas, Ecuador

Resumen

The development and implementation of aquaponic systems as a sustainable alternative in the Sabanilla pa-rish, Guayas, Ecuador, addressed the need to strengthen rural production through innovative technologies. Traditional agricultural production accounts for around 60% of rural employment; however, it depends on sta-ble climatic conditions and costly inputs, limiting productivity and highlighting the urgency of promoting sus-tainable technological alternatives. Aquaponics is based on the symbiotic collaboration between two species, where the waste produced by aquatic animals is transformed by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter into nutrients that plants use for their development. This project aimed to provide rural farmers with basic knowledge of two aquaponic systems: Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and Deep Water Culture (DWC), through a theoreti-cal-practical training program focused on the design, construction, and management of aquaponic systems. The project was carried out over 45 days in the Sabanilla parish, Pedro Carbo canton, in the province of Guayas, Ecuador, with the participation of ten local farmers, faculty, and students from the Agrarian Universi-ty of Ecuador. Growth of the species in the DWC system showed a gradual pattern. Lactuca sativa exhibited a constant development rate, indicating efficient nutrient uptake. The fingerlings of Oreochromis niloticusshowed steady growth, tripling their initial size within the same period. These findings suggest that technical training and the implementation of aquaponic systems in rural areas of the Pedro Carbo canton have shown strong potential as an innovative methodology to promote sustainable development in the agricultural sector