Hydroponics farming is the new type of farming that has been popping up in various parts of the World. It's an innovative and new way to grow a plant without using soil.
Soil is what keeps the roots supported but in Hydroponics it is subbed in by a different material, and crops are grown directly in a nutrient-rich water.
Sriram Gopal is the founder-chief executive of Chennai’s hydroponics tech firm Future Farms which is one of the first of its kind. He says that he was inspired by a documentary on 'Hydroponics' which piqued his interest in growing plants without using soil.
He studied up on the latest advancements in the field of Hydroponics and went on to establish Future Firms. They set up its first commercial hydroponic lettuce farm in the Nilgiris and supplied it to a multinational quick service restaurant chain.
.
With their success, they have established many such farms all over India. According to him, Hydroponics is a tool of change, to make farming more sustainable.
According to various research the global hydroponics market is expected to reach $17.9 billion by 2026. Although, in India, the technology is still not as advanced but more and more health-conscious people are learning about it.
According to another report, the Indian hydroponics market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.53% between 2020 and 2027. This interest in Hydroponics has been increasing due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Syed Nadeem, proprietor of Chennai-based Shaaz Agriculture Solutions, says, “There has been a sudden increase in enquiries about hydroponics after the pandemic hit. Anyone passionate about farming or gardening can do it."
After the destruction by Cyclone Vardah in 2016, Rahul Dhoka, the founder of Acqua Farms in Chennai, turned to hydroponics. He began growing vegetables on his home’s terrace hydroponically. In 2019, he launched his own company offering various hydroponic systems.
To design a hydroponic system, all you need is fresh filtered water with a balanced pH level of 6-6.5, oxygen to oxygenate your container, a root support with materials like peat moss or coconut fibre, nutrient mixture, and special lighting depending on the plant's requirements.
for more: thevirginblogs.com
0 Comments