Hydroponics is a system of agriculture in a soil less environment. Plants are grown in controlled atmosphere with supplemental lighting in medium such as coconut pith, expanded clay aggregate, rock wool etc and get all their nutrition through nutrient solution circulated to the plant roots.
Due to optimal growing conditions, productivity goes up by 3 to 5 times, water consumption gets reduced by 70% to 80% and due to soil less environment, pests, insects and weeds are not prevalent thereby reducing usage of pesticides substantially.
Hydroponics creates a sustainable food system and improves quality of food and environment without heavy usage of chemicals.
Any crop can be grown anywhere but primarily this system is currently being used to grow products such as leaf lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, green bins, basil, celery, cut flower etc.
One can start with a smaller area , divided in zones for growing separate crops to produce a market mix as per requirement and the project can be replicated as the market expands. It should be preferably set up nearer to consumption centre to reduce logistics time and cost.
– Mahendra Agrawal
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