Hydroponics in India- Part- I: Increased Nutrients and Yield
The major reason for the failure of hydroponic agriculture to catch on in India is the lack of information. The popular image of hydroponics in India is one of expensive equipment and chemicals. But is hydroponics the realm of the rich and the industrialized nations alone? For many new urban farmers in the country, the tide has turned. The internet has enabled the sharing of information on hydroponics practices developed in the corners of the world, leading to a modern revival of this practice. Gone are the days when only the large corporations, scientific research labs and the industrialized greenhouses in the US and Europe could afford the highly calibrated nutrient growth solutions that made the water rich enough with essential elements for uptake by the plants being grown. Modern techniques are not always high-tech in implementation, although the knowledge and information that goes into these techniques have a solid fundamental basis in years of scientific research.
There are many reasons why hydroponic agriculture is better than conventional farming except for a few crops and regions. The economic, environmental and food quality benefits of this form of cultivation are often inter-related and plenty. So, instead of talking about all the positive aspects of hydroponics, in this article I will focus on just one aspect of hydroponics- increased nutrient availability for the plants.
Here are some facts.
- Food yields in the industrialized countries are many times that of the developing countries.
- Much of this difference is due to better fertilization techniques using highly automated and industrialized processes.
- In developing countries, the technology to increase nutrient levels in the soil are too expensive for the average farmer.
- Idea soil conditions are very hard to maintain after they are reached. Each season alters the soil and makes it less ideal for the next cycle.
Given the above reasoning, it is obvious that if a means of efficiently increasing the quantity and balance of thenutrients taken up by the plants is discovered, it must be studied exhaustively. As early as 1946, India was adapting hydroponic techniques for popular use at a research facility in Darjeeling. Back in the early days the process of producing the balanced mixture of nutrients was an expensive and technical process. Since then we have come a long way since then. Research in biochemistry has uncovered the essential and non-essential nutrients that plants require for their growth, flowering and fruiting. The nutrient requirements of specific plant species have been studied. All around the world people have come up with inexpensive ways to enrich the water with the nutrients needed. All this is great news for the hydropinically inclined Indian grower.
A couple of years ago I got hooked on hydroponics after reading about a couple in Costa Rica who run a hydroponics projects in the mountains there. The project is the brainchild of Gustavo and Olga Fallas, both biologists interested in pesticide-free community agriculture. Their efforts have led to the success of Eco 21, a non-profit operation outside San Jose, the capital. I was very impressed reading about how the team improvised to construct their greenhouse frame and hydroponic setup. They grow tomatoes, squash, peppers, lettuce and many other plants using hydroponic medium that they mix using raw salts.
The National University of Agriculture at La Molina in Peru has developed a recipe for nutrient mixture suitable for tropical climates. This is essentially the mixture that Eco 21 is using in Costa Rica. Such developments around the world can enable urban farmers in India to embrace hydroponics with renewed vigor.
I recently read a report of an Indian grower who claims to have created nutrient solution from purely organic sources. He is being assisted by his daughter who is a botany student. Although I am skeptical of the claim that purely organic sources can produce a rich nutrient mix, this is the right direction to be headed in. It will be interesting to follow this trend in the coming years.
If you are aware of nutrient mix solutions in India please contact me by leaving a comment!
Dear Sir
Pls contact me as I manufacture Hydroponic Nutrients in India. we have also trained nearly 450 students in Hydroponics from all over India since Jan 2009.
I look forward to hearing from you soon
Kind regards
CV Prakash
Cdr (retd)
Dear sir,
Please inform regarding fee, duration & other information for training at your farm as I’m interested to in establishing simplified hydroponics.
Thanking you.
At your earliest.
Abha
Hello Sir,
Can you provide with complete contact information of yours? Would like to get some training and nutrients. Thanks in advance.
Regards
Amol Kulkarni
Dear Cdr. CV Prakash,
I am very interested in this area and would like to set up a Hydrofarm. Please let me know how I may get in touch with you.
Please email me at vic_nathan@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Vignesh
I have made a formulation and is in trial stage. Will let you know on the results.
Hi Girish,
Was your hydroponic nutrient formulation a success? I would like to know about your project if you are interested in sharing.
Thanks.
Dear sir,
I am very interested for this farming.I am related to farmers of Sikar District,Rajasthan.Please tell me in detail.
Regards
BhomaRam
09414455920
Dear Cdr. CV Prakash,
i am a keen follower of hydroponics , i have also in correspondence with Dr Howard Resh , the guru of hydroponics, would like to know the suppliers of the Nutrients and if you do supply the nutrients , do u have any branches in bombay.
rgds
we are the agro consultants,lookiing for the associates for implementing hydro phonics project in tamil nadu
looking for the early reply
regards
M.Balashanmugam
Please contact us on 080-65315777 for commercial hydroponics projects.
HYDROPONICS is UNSAFE and dangerous. Please avoid this form of farming – IT INVOLVES HUGE EXPENDITURE for imported fertilzers used in the NUTRIENT. It is NOT COMMERCIALLY VIABLE in a country like India where we have good sunshine, arable land and low cost labour. These people who are trying to make money out of HYDROPONICS in India by conducting silly training programmes are doing a great disservice to society and should be jailed for causing ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.
Hydroponics is neither unsafe nor dangerous. You are fear mongering. You talk about expensive nutrients and arable soil. I don’t think you even bothered to read the article. Please do and see what I say about those two points.
Firstly, India has terribly poor soil after thousands of years of cultivation of the land. Making the soil fertile is a terribly expensive and destructive process. Much of the nutrient runs off into the water system and causes algal bloom and increases the BOD, causing dead zones in rivers and oceans. Secondly, nutrients can be made using cheap organic sources. The research into such techniques are being pioneered in other developing countries in South America. A major part of this article was about that. Thirdly, India faces a huge water crisis, which is a real crisis unlike the nutrient problem. The nutrient problem can be figured out through science. The water problem is much more serious. Fourthly, there are many other benefits of hydroponics that you omit, such as the lower amount of pesticides used in closed hydroponic settings. In fact, biological pest control is being used in some countries like Costa Rica.
Like all future technologies, hydroponics needs more research, and companies are working on this. There are many things that are not commercially viable at first, but become viable after years of research. Unfortunately, in India people are refusing to see the possibilities that hydroponics has to offer. You are still perceiving of farming as large scale commercial enterprise, but the future of agriculture is in small hydroponics set ups throughout cites and on rooftops. This will reduce both water consumption and will avoid the problems of distribution that arise due to India’s terrible transport infrastructure. As renewable energy becomes available locally, we will start seeing more and more of these local hydroponic set ups.
The idea that something that is commercially not viable is being promoted by industry is irrational. If there is a market for it, the industry will grow. If not, it wont. The market will work this one out. All we can do is present all the information fairly.
Dear sir,
I am very interested for this type farming,
Please send me some Store location in KOLKATA,(West Bengal) where to buy Hydroponics nutrient.
Thank You.
Soumitra Seth.
Hydroponics is good for country like India but it need not be done in fashion the rich countries are doing. We have to Indianise the system also people have understand the concept.More corporates are required to take up the projects.
What cdr CV Prakash is doing somehow is not going well with
Indians. With so many complains coming I think he should
review his system.
Hi Friends,
I totally agree that Hydroponics is the future especially if you believe in quality of the produce and running it like a business. Hydroponics alone brings agriculture to same standards of efficiency that one associates with manufacturing industry.
Think about it guys, you control inputs, you control the environment, you control the processes and sure enough you can very well control the output which in our case is ofcourse the produce.
One thing is paramount though, always remember hydroponics is a tool and thus your business plan should revolve around produce and it’s market. That alone will ensure the success of your business. Hydroponics will bring in efficiency, certainty and unmatched quality.
I completed a Strawberry project which you can view at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpRrZNthZvU
I also see lot of you concerned about nutrient solution. One needs to buy this in bulk quantity and since individual needs are smaller makes it expensive. Since I am doing a commercial projects on Peppers, Melons and Strawberries, I can provide you with individual quantities if any one is interested.
I can be reached on my e-mail at atulkalaskar@yahoo.com.
Will keep you posted about my pepper project which is on now.
Regards
Atul
Hi Atul,
I just watched the video of your project. Congratulations! I am returning to India soon, having gained experience in the US. I would like to keep in touch with you and follow the great work you are doing. Please let me know how your pepper project is coming along.
Regarding nutrients, are you using all synthetic sources or are there organic nutrients available in India?
Thanks.
You can now buy hydroponic nutrients and coco peat online on ebay. checl this link
http://shop.ebay.in/atulkalaskar/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340