From October 1997 to May 1998, several interviews with producers of hydroponic crops took place in Distrito Federal with the objective of not only verifying but also identifying the present situation regarding the constraint points in the production system. Eighteen producers were identified in a ratio of 50km away from Brasília. The main crops are lettuce and tomato, which occupy an area of 2,7 ha and 0,5 ha, respectively. It was also verified that the majority of the structures used was made of wood and steel, which account for an average cost of R$ 26,00/m² for lettuce production, and of R$ 20,00/m² for tomato production. The unit cost for lettuce is around R$ 0,25 and the average market price is R$ 0,45, whereas the tomato is sold for R$ 1,20/kg. Due to the recent production, tomato producers haven't yet figured out the real costs. The average productivity observed was of 300t/ha/year for lettuce, and of 104t/ha/cycle for tomato. The main buyers are Ceasa, supermarkets, restaurants, vegetable stores, and green groceries stores. One producer exports lettuce to Manaus (AM). Half of the producers do not use chemicals. The main problems faced by lettuce producers are the lack of technical assistance, "tipburn", analysis of the nutrient solution, inward structure heating, diseases and pests. On the other hand, tomato producers face cracked fruits, as well as diseases and pests. Vegetables hydroponic cropping is seen as an alternative for the feasibility of the agribusiness of the region, besides allowing a substantial reduction of chemicals utilization. Approximately 44% of the producers have no technical assistance and are also operating through attempts, which demands a more effective support by universities, research institutes and extension services.
Lactuca sativa; Lycopersicon esculentum; hydroponics
