Ispaenlinea

A building with 1,000 square meter roof top can be covered by a green house structure to keep insects and other harmful organism away and assure an even internal temperature regardless of weather. Using tomatoes as an example, a yield of 43 kilos per square meter produces 43,000 kilos per year from a single building. At US$0.40 per kilo of pesticide free produce, this is US$17,200 a year. This is more than what a minimum wage worker earns in a year of US$10,400.

Thus, a farmer can loan US$20,000 for construction of the green house plus hydroponic expenses. With 24% interest rates across a 2 year loan of a payable amount US$24,800 or US$12,400 a year, the farmer stands to earn US$4,800 a year for the first 2 years and the full US$17,200 a year after loan payment. Rent costs of the roof can be US$6,800 a year and can be sustainable leaving US$10,400 a year income, provided the first 2 year’s rent is waived in favor of the loan. Thus, Urban Farming can be a serious source of income.