Hydroponic Farming: Farming In the New Normal!
The pandemic situation has reversed the conventional ways and proposed new means to survive the new normal. Post Covid life is all about adopting new means and methods. There is sudden obsession in the culture of being healthy, GROW YOUR OWN GREENS, herbs and vegetables at home. Hydroponic Farming has given a boost to this culture. The scientific technique of Hydroponic Farming is the solution to, ‘I want to eat organic’ wishes. It is a method of immersing roots of crops in water and nutrients directly instead of getting them from soil. It eliminates the use of harmful pesticides or soil-borne diseases.
A farming system where greens are grown organically without soil, with nutrients and 90% less water, pesticide free, and 40% more nutritious than traditional farming. Hydroponic Farming is not just a more organic and better method of farming, but a more refined version of GARDENING as HOBBY. It is a method of immersing roots of crops in water and nutrients directly instead of getting them from soil. It eliminates the use of harmful pesticides or soil-borne diseases. Empty terraces, vacant farmhouses, empty land, no use land, most are seeing conversion into Hydroponic Farming by the rich and urban Middle class now. It takes limited space, and hardly any time from farm to table. Grow your groceries on your own and be ‘Atmanirbhar’ in true sense.
What is Hydroponics?
Did you know plants grow a lot better with their roots in water instead of soil? A plant solely requires select nutrients, some water, and sunlight to grow. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in a soil-free base. The roots are immersed in water and nutrients, instead of soil. It is a system where water runs in cycles in a fixed quantity and needs to be changed every 15 days. This eradicates the need to water plants every day and perfectly pH-balanced (5.5) water results in nutrient rich crop, producing healthier yields. As the Macro and micronutrients in the water are directly fed to Hydroponic plants, they have a higher growth rate than soil plants.
It is a form of “precision farming” where nothing is squandered.
An Inhouse Hydroponic Farm
The fruits and vegetables we buy from market are grown with pesticides, disinfectants and harmful chemicals. You are what you eat and you do not want your body to consume adulterated produce. Hydroponic Farming enables you to grow your own crop and enjoy your nutrient rich meal from your own farm. Thus, being able to grow your own crop in an indoor controlled environment, you can always be sure about the quality of the food you eat and serve.
How to set Up Hydroponics?
You can be a hydroponic farmer even if you have no farm land or experience in farming. Yes! You don’t need acres of land for cultivation anymore. All you need is sunlight, water, and oxygen to activate your edible garden in the balcony, on the rooftop, windowsills, or even backyard. The minimum space needed to set up a Hydroponic Farm is 2×3 square feet. If you do vertical hydroponics, then 30 pots can thrive, and cost about Rs 3,000 per set up. Automatic water-based system eliminates the necessity of farmer or grower to be present 24X7. One can simply use a standard hydroponic agriculture DIY kit, or, use a standard method to grow soilless plants inside an indoor controlled environment.
Leading Indian companies in hydroponic:
Hydroponic Farming has caught the sight of entrepreneurs in India and abroad. According to reports The India Hydroponics Market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.53% during the forecasting period (2020-2027). Sakina Rajkotwala and Joshua Lewis, of Herbivore Farms, have come into focus in the last year. In Manori, Linesh Pillai started Terra Farms as a pilot project before taking the idea countrywide. Delhi has Triton Foodworks; Noida has Nature’s Miracle; In south Chennai has Sriram Gopal’s Future Farms and Rahul Dhoka’s Acqua Farms; and Gurugram-based company, Barton Breeze, has six farms across Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Renowned business groups such as DS Group and Patanjali are also considering hydroponics on a commercial scale.
Costs and expenses involved:
Indoor hydroponic farmers can earn huge profits without extensive capital investment. It is essential to be watchful of the hydroponic equipment, water-use efficiency and crop management to made production profitable. Do not forget to spend on Regular plant maintenance, such as pruning and trellising to extend the productive life of a crop. Growers sometimes avoid these steps for greater benefits and end up yielding poor crop. Hydroponic systems, regardless of the structure they’re used in, are 60% more profitable.
Future & Growth:
Hydroponic farming started as a quarantine hobby has now turned it into profitable business. According to MarketsandMarkets, a market research company, the global hydroponics market is estimated to grow from $8.1 billion in 2019 to $16.0 billion by 2025, registering a CAGR of 12.1%. India’s overall fruit and vegetables (F&V) market was estimated at around Rs 5,00,000 crore in 2015. Even if we assume a meager 0.5% of this overall market translating into Hydroponic Method, there is a humongous opportunity of around Rs 2,500 cr produce at least in next five years. The primary propellers for the growth of Hydroponic Farming include growing population and the need to ensure food security. This technique is much feasible than traditional farming and gives the best yields.
Plants You Can Grow:
The most profitable crops to grow in a Hydroponic Farm are Dill, Mint, Cannabis, strawberries and cabbage. However, the Variety ranges from vegetables like tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumber, Kale, Spinach, Beans, Peppers, Capsicum Radish, Ginger, Peppermint and others. Herbal plants like Chives and Basil can also be grown hydroponically.
