Hydroponics: A Boon To Agriculture

Hydroponics is the modern technology in farming in which plant growth and productivity are controlled by water and its nutrients levels in the water. It is a way of hydroculture which is a method of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrients solutions in a water solvent. Here the farming is done without soil and the crops are grown on water. The nutrients used in hydroponics system can come from different sources which can include byproduct from fish waste, duck manure or other chemical fertilizers. This technology is becoming popular and has great application in the field of farming.

Some of its beneficial applications are as follows:

• It uses all mineral nutrients provided in the water.

• Great for both the environment and the grown product, hydroponic gardening virtually eliminates the need for herbicides and pesticides compared to traditional soil gardening.

• Hyro-farming required less water as compared to soil farming.

• Fast growth and high yield can be excepted from this type of farming.

• High product quality.

• For the best result, this can be combined with greenhouse technology.

• It can be automated and managed easily.

• It requires less space as compared to traditional farming.

Hydroponic systems are growing in countries such as in Ethiopia, Ghana, Cambodia, China, Jordan, territories under control of the Palestinian Authority, and others. This has also begun in India.

Letcetra Agritechis Goa’s first, indoor hydroponics farm, growing good quality, pesticide-free vegetables. The farm in Goa’s Mapusa is an unused shed and currently, produces over 1.5 to 2 tons of leafy vegetables like various varieties of lettuce and herbs in its 150 sq metre area. The start-up is founded by Ajay Naik, a software engineer-turned-hydroponics farmer. There are many hydroponics systems in and around India like Kerala, Hyderabad, Gujarat, New Delhi, Maharashtra etc.

Hydroponics is a like a blessing of modern technology to agriculture. It can grow the healthiest food possible, in large quantities, in the smallest space and in a sustainable way. Not only does hydroponics accomplish all the goals set by organic farming, but it takes a step further byoffering people the ability to grow food in places where traditional agriculture simply isn’t possible.