Greenhouse vs. Open-field: Which produces better?

Often, visitors thinking of doing tomato farming ask, “Should I go for open-field or greenhouse?”

Without hesitation, greenhouse is the superior mode of production.

As our 5 years at Kibiko end, I asked a few fellow farmers, would you do a greenhouse or open-field? Without exception all said greenhouse.

Now, whether it is hydroponic or not is another question entirely.

It is unfortunate that greenhouses are perceived negatively.

Perhaps, it is the giant paper houses that give the impression of artificiality. Unnaturalness. Or maybe it is because people do not see what is going on in a greenhouse. And if they cannot see, then, they think the worst.

“Oh. Greenhouse is chemicals.”

“Since the plants are not exposed to the sun, the fruits are not delicious or nutritious.”

 “If I find a tomato which is firm on the outside and its seeds are sprouting on the inside, it is an unnatural greenhouse tomato.”

Basically, what I read into these statements is:

“As I cannot see how production is going on, then what is happening inside a greenhouse is unnatural and evil.”

Setting aside these misconceptions and myths, here are some facts about greenhouse production:

1.    Unlike open-field tomatoes that are vulnerable to all pests and diseases, the paper and net, protect greenhouse tomatoes from external pests and diseases-carrying pathogens. Think in terms of, how much less chemicals a greenhouse farmer uses because the net screens against 90 percent of pests.

2.    6 times more production. Half an acre of open field will give you 10,000kgs (10 tonnes). Half an acre can host 10.5 greenhouses of 192m2. If each greenhouse produces 6,000 kgs (6 tonnes), we have approximately 60,000 kgs (60 tonnes).

3.    In a greenhouse, the harvesting period is a minimum of 6 months, while in open-field a maximum of 3 months. Think about how easy it is to have an average good price over 6 months compared to 3 months.

4.    Uniformity in production because (1) the greenhouse area is small – 240m2 or 192m2, and (2) all parts of the farm experience the same climatic conditions.

5.    There is absolutely no difference in taste. Or at the very least, any taste difference is not a greenhouse, open-field thing.

6.    No rain which is never good for tomato farmers.

7.    No human predators.

8.    No birds

Important to Note

1.    Greenhouse does not automatically guarantee profitability.

While a greenhouse gives you more control over the growing conditions and a bit of market stability (because you are harvesting over a long time), sustained profitability is a matter of agribusiness strategy.

2.    Greenhouse has a start-up cost many times that of open-field. However, cost is not the biggest impediment to greenhouse farming.

3.    The biggest impediment to greenhouse farming is misinformation. If you want the right information about greenhouse farming, ask a greenhouse farmer.

If you want more information about greenhouse farming (at a small fee, of course) use this link to fill in your details, where I can have a farmer contact you.

In conclusion, if you see me doing open-field tomatoes, do not accuse me of double-standard. Just know it is so I can build my 1 or 2 or 3 or as someone asked, why not 100 greenhouses?

As I said, the initial cost is not the biggest impediment to greenhouse farming, it is information. Here is the link again.