Hydroponics

[shailu]

Hydroponics how can it be economical?viable?

[vishy62]

Hydroponics Viability depends upon your choice of what you can grow and targeting the right markets.
It is a little capital intensive but rewards the growers in many ways than one.
Kindly have a look at You Found Us
They have some excellent ideas for hydroponics in India.
Kind regards

CV Prakash

[navalbhawsar]

I have noted with interest about the hydroponic horticulture crop cultivation. How it could be replicated for roof kitchen garden? I am keen to be associated for propagation of such technologies. Can we see any model scheme working in and around Bangalore?

[vishy62]

Unfortunately we are into commercial hydroponic cultivation.

we dont do urban roof top hydroponics.

Kind regards

CV

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

In India Hydroponics is not mostly preferred as the soil and climate are much better than the forced system, which requres skilled manpower. It is mostly follwoed in Arab countries where the soil and climate dont favour the crop growth.

Kirti

[navalbhawsar]

I am interested to be associated with commercial setting up of hydroponics for Western vegetables. Can we see any plant in working condition in and around Bangalore?

[vishy62]

You should be able to see a working proof of concept very soon in Bangalore/Ootacamund using the leading Hydroponics methods.
Rgds

CV

[vasu1946]

I would like to visit a hydroponics unit when it is ready.Please remember to invite me

[vishy62]

Dear Vasu

Please send me your email id so that I can inform you all when the Hydroponic system is ready.

Best regards

CV Prakash
You Found Us

[dineshdrao]

Dear All,

Over the last few weeks, I have done enough study on hydroponics and how this technology can be adopted for the Indian scenario. The following are my views:

While this technology increases the predictability & output of vegetables grown, the following are critical to a hydroponic project

1) Availability of water having PPM less than 80 is key to growing of vegetables using the hydroponic technology. Since the nutrients have to be very accurate the chances of error is minimal. The nutrients are measured in PPM and overall the PPM should be between 800 - 1100 based upon the growing stages of the plant (technical table available). In India the municipal water supply PPM ranges anything between 200-600 ppm and borewell water is area dependent. The least would still be in the range of 200-300 ppm. To get water of less than 80 ppm, we need to use reverse osmosis filter which is a very expensive proposition.

2) Availability of pre-mixed nutrients in India is another requirement for setting up a hydroponics project. While these nutrients in its individual form are available in india, it is the proper ratio of these nutrients which is required to be formed for a given vegetable / family of vegetables. The list of individual chemicals that are required is available. Whats not available is the ratio of the these chemicals to be added for lets say growing tomato or capsicum or okra..

If answers for the above can be got, then I feel the viability of a hydroponic project becomes very strong..

The documentation which I have gone through gives complete details on how to setup hydroponic growing using 6 inch PVC pipes which are readility available in most hardware stores. It is a simple technique and whoever are interested i can pass on the documentation. The investments will also not be very high.. A rough calculation to setup a 1000 plant capacity would be about 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh rupees (capex cost). Assuming the 1000 plants is tomato and average per plant is 10 kgs, it would result in about 10 tonnes of tomato output. Also this capacity can be utilised like a factory as the same vegetable can be planted as the previous plant becomes old.

Like minded people who have interest in Hydroponics and want to start a pilot in India, please do get in touch with me. Also if one can think over a solution to the two problems which i have discussed, pls do discuss on this forum.

Regards

Dinesh Rao

Originally Posted by kirti s

Dear Sir

In India Hydroponics is not mostly preferred as the soil and climate are much better than the forced system, which requres skilled manpower. It is mostly follwoed in Arab countries where the soil and climate dont favour the crop growth.

Kirti