Specifications of Modern Greenhouses for Better Agricultural Yield

The general manager of the Chinese company "Lucky" in Beijing warned against continuing the current method of constructing agricultural greenhouses on many farms in Kuwait, which lack even the most basic engineering principles, such as the use of cold-galvanized steel pipes driven directly into concrete or soil—a practice that exposes the steel to rust and corrosion—as well as poor welding in the construction of the greenhouses, which leaves them vulnerable to rust and disintegration over time. emphasizing the importance of management and technical supervision by a specialist with experience in greenhouse cultivation and maintenance. Meanwhile, agricultural expert Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Fraih pointed out a second mistake in this regard, which is the construction of low-height greenhouses in Kuwait, ranging from only 2.3 to 3 meters. These heights are no longer used in developed countries; the minimum standard height is 4 meters, the average is 5 meters, and the optimal height is 6 meters, because greater height provides better ventilation and consequently better production, making the greenhouse preferable to any other type of structure, especially those covered with low-quality plastic or polycarbonate, based on extensive experience in Kuwait, specifically in the Abdali Agricultural Area. Al-Fraih warned in the context of his scientific presentation during a lecture held by Burgan Agricultural Company at the Jumeirah Hotel in Kuwait last Monday evening on the occasion of the visit of the regional director of the Chinese agricultural greenhouse company, Kenj Beijing Ray Yong, against installing service doors for agricultural greenhouses next to the cooling system or in the middle of the greenhouse, as this allows hot air to enter for most of the day. He said it is important to install double doors to prevent the entry of insects and dust, and Al-Fraih called for the careful selection of cooling panels and their weekly maintenance to prevent salt buildup, as well as the appointment of a competent agricultural engineer to oversee appropriate irrigation, cooling, and fertilization for the plants grown inside the greenhouse. He noted that while a greenhouse meeting modern international standards may be expensive, its cost is justified by its high yield in both hot and cold weather. In the Netherlands, for example, a high-quality greenhouse yields 90–100 kilograms of tomatoes per square meter, whereas a cooled tunnel in Kuwait yields 25 kilograms per square meter. It should be noted that it is possible to easily produce approximately 45 kilograms of tomatoes in Kuwait using a modern greenhouse. Therefore, I advise all Kuwaiti farmers to rely on production through greenhouses that meet international standards to obtain the best fruits and crops and, consequently, the best financial return for them. More on this later.