Till 2016, Pritpal Singh’s household in Chandigarh had been cultivating wheat and paddy for 50 years.
“The tradition of monocropping is prevalent in Punjab and Haryana the place most households develop paddy and wheat all through each Kharif and Rabi seasons. Sticking to particular crops yr after yr finally results in a rise in soil-borne ailments and considerably decreases the fertility of soil,” he says.
Pritpal was all the time intrigued by new methods to make farming extra worthwhile and scale back the dangers related to conventional agricultural practices. This quest led him to give up his three-year lengthy company profession and switch to farming.
“Coming from a household of farmers, I used to be all the time linked to my roots, even throughout my larger research in Nagpur and my job in Mumbai. Each time I received an opportunity, I visited my farm, considering remodel it right into a worthwhile enterprise for the following era,” he shares.
“Once I advised my dad and mom about my choice to pursue farming full-time, their first concern was additionally in regards to the new approaches I wished to strive,” provides the MBA graduate.
Pritpal went on to show his ancestral farm right into a thriving enterprise with 25,000 inexperienced leafy crops similar to lettuce and spinach flourishing in an 8,000 square-feet space. Each month, he harvests as much as 800 kg of leafy greens, reaching 5 instances the yield in comparison with typical farming whereas utilizing fewer assets.
This was doable because of the protected cultivation system of hydroponics the place crops are grown with out soil!
“There are various soil borne ailments similar to fungal and bacterial infections that have an effect on crop yield. You can not get rid of microorganisms and parasites like nematodes from the soil. So, I considered eliminating soil itself as a medium altogether. I turned to hydroponics, which eliminates this fear,” he explains.
Pritpal now grows unique leafy greens similar to Italian basil, child spinach, three to 4 sorts of lettuces, vine crops like crimson and yellow capsicum and seedless cucumbers.
He grows these crops in 2.5 acres of land comprising a number of kinds of protected setting constructions, together with an indoor vertical farm, a temperature-controlled polyhouse, a naturally-ventilated polyhouse, and indoor and out of doors hydroponics setups.
The Higher India sat down with Pritpal to grasp his change from conventional open area cultivation to protected farming strategies.
Rising crops the brand new manner
After researching, Pritpal got here to learn about protected cultivation and greenhouse farming. In 2016, he began cultivating unique flowers and greens like seedless cucumbers.
Quickly, he was additionally launched to the hydroponics technique of cultivation. Speaking about its benefits, he says, “Hydroponics permits us to develop leafy greens domestically in a temperature-controlled setting all yr spherical. It provides you extra management over the rising half.”
He goes on to clarify how this technique additionally saves 90 % water in comparison with open-field farming because it retains circulating it inside the setup. This makes the entire method a sustainable manner of rising meals.
“It additionally reduces nutrient prices, as we solely add the exact quantity wanted for plant development, in contrast to in open-field farming the place massive portions of fertilisers are used with out management,” he provides.
Pritpal says that he invested Rs 60 lakh in establishing the entire system on a 2.5 acre farm. “However that is solely a one-time funding, yielding recurring advantages all year long,” he provides.
At present, he grows leafy greens hydroponically and harvests as much as 800 kg of produce each month. “In leafy greens, the yield is nearly 5 instances larger in comparison with conventional land-based farming. That’s the great thing about hydroponics,” he shares.
Pritpal additionally grows bell peppers and seedless cucumbers in a naturally-ventilated polyhouse spanning throughout 1.5 acres. Yearly, he harvests as much as 90 tonnes of seedless cucumbers and as much as 30 tonnes of bell peppers. “I get a 30 % larger return on this setup,” he provides.
‘There was no plan B’
General, Pritpal says his annual earnings has elevated by as much as 1.5 instances with vine crops and 5 instances with leafy greens in comparison with conventional soil-based farming.
A 2023 analysis mentions hydroponic farming has the potential to “revolutionise agriculture and meals manufacturing”. It may be used for rising a variety of plant species, together with leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, and flowers. It offers exact management over nutrient supply and environmental circumstances, resulting in elevated crop yields and higher-quality produce.
However this achievement was not straightforward.
“It hasn’t in any respect been a cakewalk for me. I’ve been on this area for nearly eight years now and have confronted a number of challenges,” he says.
Pritpal says that though hydroponics farming has gained immense momentum within the final couple of years, it was difficult for him to put in a correct setup with out having the technical know-how.
“I employed an organization from Mumbai to arrange the hydroponics farm. The corporate lacked sufficient data and couldn’t actually assist with the rising half. I realised they made false claims,” he says.
So, whereas the setup was prepared, Pritpal couldn’t develop something for the preliminary 4 months. “I needed to take a step again. However I saved on telling myself that there is no such thing as a plan B and I’ve to do that. I began researching on each parameter of the farm and started adjusting them one after the other,” he says.
“As an example, they didn’t use the best high quality of LED develop lights, and the wavelength was not appropriate for the expansion of the crops. I discovered about these facets the exhausting manner and began making appropriate adjustments,” he provides.
Regularly, Pritpal additionally included solar energy to deliver down the operational prices by 80 %. He put in photo voltaic panels of 15 KW capability to run the hydroponics arrange.
Pritpal factors out that farmers can’t merely copy-paste the hydroponics setups of Western international locations.
“We additionally want to contemplate completely different weather conditions of varied states within the nation. In Chandigarh, we’re required to keep up a temperature between 20 and 26 levels and humidity of 60 to 65 %. These parameters will be completely different for Kashmir. We have to first analyse the geography, local weather, and climate circumstances, and accordingly design and arrange the farm,” he provides.
In 2020, Pritpal additionally began Farmcult, a bootstrapped Agritech startup offering end-to-end options for individuals who wish to enter the world of hydroponics.
Farmcult at the moment operates beneath two enterprise fashions:
1: Turnkey Tasks and Consulting: Farmcult designs and units up trendy hydroponic farms, customised based on the geographical location and the crop to be cultivated. They not solely arrange the farms, but in addition help their purchasers for a minimum of six months, making certain they’re snug with each facet of the hydroponics enterprise. Farmcult additionally helps set up market linkages for the crops being cultivated.
2. Passive Revenue Mannequin: For purchasers who intend to begin a large-scale hydroponics enterprise however lack the bandwidth to handle the farms, Farmcult affords complete help. They not solely assist arrange the farm but in addition handle every day operations, proper from germination to harvesting and market linkages. Farmcult shares quarterly returns with purchasers who’ve invested within the farm. Pritpal says that they’re at the moment seeing a variety of curiosity in folks for this mannequin.
Farmcult additionally offers workshops and coaching to the group about the advantages of hydroponic farming, together with sustainability, water effectivity, and chemical-free produce. They’ve educated greater than 100 folks within the final three months.
Udit Bhatia, who educated beneath Pritpal final April, tells The Higher India, “Anybody can practise hydroponics farming. It is vitally helpful for crops like lettuce, the place the expansion cycle reduces from 90 to 40 days.”
“Formal coaching turns into important in hydroponics to get most yield and return on funding. I discovered keep water temperature and management humidity ranges. Additionally it is important to verify for fungus assaults as they will shortly unfold all through the farm because of the shared water supply. Utilizing chillers can scale back temperatures to twenty levels and minimise fungal assaults,” he provides.
Pritpal aspires to encourage extra folks to undertake hydroponics not simply instead cultivation method however as a worthwhile and sustainable enterprise enterprise because it has the potential to fulfill the rising meals calls for in cities and deal with reducing agricultural lands whereas supplementing larger incomes.
“With this technique, we will obtain larger yields in smaller areas and in addition increase our incomes,” he says.
Reflecting on his success, Pritpal says, “I’ve heard in regards to the kids of medical doctors and legal professionals following the identical professions, however I consider that that mindset is missing in farming. I wished to alter this thought course of.”
“If agriculture and allied companies are to stay the bedrock of the nation’s economic system, we have to make them extra worthwhile. Working on this area and turning into a profitable farmer has been a dream come true. Personally, this whole expertise has additionally made me extra persistent and disciplined. Taking a look at my farm now, I really feel content material,” he provides.
Supply: Analysis on hydroponics farming: By Shrestha Sanchaya, Ms Saritha S R, Mr Bhaskar A, Tesfaye Leul, Thapa Anushri, Agrawal Subham, Jaju Anish for Worldwide Journal of Analysis Publication and Evaluations, revealed in April, 2023.
Edited by Khushi Arora. All pictures: Pritpal Singh.
