Development and deployment of agricultural solutions engineered for arid environments are underway within Qatar’s premier technology hub, driven by growing demand for localised food security measures.
What began as a simple family gardening activity during the Covid-19 pandemic has evolved into a structured agricultural enterprise, accountant-turned-entrepreneur Jeacim Francis Adaya told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.
He founded Hydrovest Technology, which has scaled up its operations from a home hydroponics hobby into a dedicated research project based at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).
Adaya, who has lived in Qatar for more than 15 years, discovered the potential of soilless cultivation while looking for meaningful ways to spend time with his family during the global health crisis. The success of producing fresh food at home prompted him to share his experience through social media and small community workshops, he said.
“We started growing vegetables through hydroponics at home, and I was amazed that we could produce fresh, healthy food without soil. As I shared our journey on social media and through small community workshops, I realised many people in Qatar were eager to learn about modern farming but didn’t know where to begin,” he explained.
This localised interest led to the launch of the ‘Future of Agriculture – Hydroponics’ advocacy, noted Adaya, adding that the initiative aims to make modern farming practices accessible to families, schools, and local entrepreneurs.
The transition from financial services to agricultural technology proved natural for Adaya, who explained that his finance background provided critical perspective in data analysis, risk management, and the formulation of sustainable business models.
“People often think finance and agriculture are completely different fields, but I see many similarities. My background in finance taught me how to analyse data, manage risks, create sustainable business models, and make informed long-term decisions,” he pointed out.
Adaya said, “Agriculture today is no longer just about planting crops. It involves technology, resource management, innovation, and sustainability. Financial discipline helped me understand how to build solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and economically viable”.
Operating within Qatar requires navigating specific environmental constraints, he pointed out.
“Qatar’s climate presents unique challenges. The extreme summer temperatures, limited freshwater resources, and high cooling requirements make farming difficult. In the beginning, we experienced crop failures, equipment issues, and many trial-and-error experiments. Instead of seeing those as failures, we treated every challenge as valuable research,” he said.
Adaya continued, “Those experiences convinced me that Qatar doesn’t need to copy farming methods from other countries. We need technologies specifically designed for desert environments. That belief continues to drive our research and development today.”
According to Adaya, the establishment of Hydrovest Technology was intended to address an identified gap in the domestic market. While large-scale public investments have enhanced national food security, affordable technology and technical guidance remained scarce for smaller, community growers.
“I noticed that while Qatar has made remarkable investments in food security, there was still a need to make advanced farming technologies more accessible to the wider community.
“Many people were interested in hydroponics but lacked practical knowledge, affordable solutions, and technical guidance. Hydrovest Technology was created to bridge that gap by combining education, research, and innovation,” he stressed.
The company focuses on a broader definition of commercial success, said Adaya, who also emphasised that leadership in sustainability must balance financial metrics with societal value, focusing on inspiring local communities to adopt independent food production.
“Success should not be measured only by financial performance but also by the positive impact we create for society. If our work inspires one child to love agriculture or helps one family grow their own food, then we are already making a meaningful difference,” Adaya added.
