Hydroponics

Hydroponics

CONTEXT: Move over organic food. Health conscious consumers are going one step ahead, heading for hydroponic produce or fruits and vegetables grown without soil, and increasingly seen on urban rooftops. Seeing a growing opportunity, a whole host of start-ups has waded into hydroponic farming, offering pesticide-free fruits and vegetables.

CONCEPT:

Hydroponics technique, roots are submerged in water that is infused with nutrients. Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants without using soil. Hydroponic flowers, herbs, and vegetables are planted in inert growing media and supplied with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water.

Hydroponics reduces both cost on transportation and emissions. Hydroponics makes the application of organic farming techniques very simpler. Better nutritional value of crops. In hydroponics, cropping cycle is reduced and harvesting times are a lot shorter.

In hydroponics, the nutrient solution is mixed into the water and is supplied directly to the roots. Since the water directly reaches the roots, it is absorbed much better and nothing is lost in soil absorption

Due to the higher set-up cost for hydroponic farming, the cost of the produce is also high. It also helps farmers get steady income and reduce dependence on monsoon,

According to a report by DataM Intelligence, the Indian hydroponic market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.53 per cent between 2020 and 2027