extreme weather
Mr. André Tesher is a producer of different varieties of salads in the Reunion Island, in Indian Ocean, at the east of Madagascar. His area of production reaches 1,1ha among which 8 000sqm in open field and 3 000sqm under 2 Shelter greenhouses from Filclair. These greenhouses are designed to support very strong winds and rains. They are covered in plastic on the roof and agricultural nets on the fronts and sides.
Filclair: Mr. Tesher, What made you switch part of your production from open field to greenhouses?
André Tesher: My first aim was to protect my production from the heavy rains which occur very often in the area and can damage the open field crops. As a consequence, I wanted to find a way to be able to produce continuously and provide the market all year long.
Filclair: What made you choose Shelter type grd nhouse from Filclair?
AT: This type of greenhouse appeared to be the most suitable and best quality / price product I could get in the market. It offers the required protection against heavy rains whilst has a very competitive price.
Filclair: More specifically, according to you, what are the main qualities of this Shelter greenhouse?
AT: First, I would say it offers very good ventilation comparable to open-field conditions, thanks to the 4 sides only covered by nets. Second, the structure is very strong and the plastic and net fitting with aluminium clips is very clever and efficient, which enables to feel secure during very strong and speedy winds periods.
Filclair: Talking of this, you experienced a typhoon in 2007. How did your greenhouse react?
AT: Although we are used to typhoons here, I got very worried about the way my greenhouses would react and if I would loose my crops or not. Fortunately, the greenhouses stood up against winds going up to 140miles per hour. The only damage concerned one plastic cover on the roof of one Shelter but it was due to an external object which flew on it and teared it. Apart from that, the plastic and nets remained perfectly fitted on both Shelters thanks to the aluminium clips, and the structure itself did not have any damage.
Filclair: Would you say you have considerably increased both quality and productivity of your salads produced under the Shelters comparing to the open air production?
AT: I started producing under my Shelters a little bit more than a year ago. It is therefore quite difficult to answer. Meanwhile, What I can definitely say is that I have a very good quality so far especially regarding the soil properties. And in terms of productivity, my salads are protected from the heavy rains all year long, and I would have lost most of my crops during the last typhoon if they were not protected. Finally, in consequence of the typhoon, there was a shortage of salads in the market implicating a high rise of the prices after February 2007 and enabling the producers who had not faced damages, as myself, to “get advantage” of this situation.
Filclair: Could you give us an idea of the time for return on investment of your Shelters (2 blocks for a total area of 3 000sqm)?
AT: Well, in my specific case, it was very quick, less than a year… But it is not relevant because I received important regional financing and tax discounts. However, what is definitely relevant is that, although I had not received public funds, I would have had an also very quick return on investment because I was amongst the few to be able to provide salads, whose prices were very high, after the typhoon. I also gain by producing all year long.
Filclair: Would you advise producers to use Shelters from Filclair?
AT: It of course would depend of the kind of production. Let’s say that for vegetable producers such as salads, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, melons and cut-flower producers, I would say this product is pbÂticularly adapted and recommendable in areas whose climate comprises typhoons and heavy rains periods. It is a simple but very strong structure with great ventilation abilities. So, yes, I would strongly advise to go for it.
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