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Soil-less/Hydroponics
• Gives grower effective control over the environment.
• Yields are very predictable.
• Budgeting is easier,
• Root zone aeration as well as adequate porosity of medium is
ensured.
• Nutrients in the soil are often fixed as insoluble compounds that are not
available to plants and therefore a loss to the grower.
• Hydroponic systems will reduce the amount of exposed moisture in the growing
environment.
• Hydroponics will effectively prevent wetting of the leaf surfaces which, in normal
agriculture, provides the fungal spores with the perfect medium to proliferate.
• Root zone temperatures are maintained as is ideal to ensure good growth of the
plant.
• Weeds are a major problem in Soil cultivation and calls for the use of
harmful herbicides. Most farmers spend an enormous amount of
money on labor for weeding.
Pest Management
• The use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in protected environments is
ideally suited to hydroponic growing techniques, especially when carried out in a
protected environment such as a glasshouse or plastic/polythene tunnels.
• The use of IPM can virtually eliminate the need to use toxic and expensive chemical
pesticides.
• Whereas IPM is much more difficult in Soil cultivation and calls for near total use
of dangerous, life threatening chemical pesticides.
• Diseases and pests from neighboring farms can cause spread of diseases in one’s
field crops.
• When compared to Soil cultivation, Hydroponics reduces the need for farm
equipment, reduced labor , reduction of crop losses, gives consistent and
predictable yields.
6/16/2018 Presentation is copyright of ISH, India
Simplified Hydroponics Yield Data
Expected daily vegetable production from a Micro-garden- Average range ( 2 kilos per day) Area 20 Sq.M
Area in Grams per
Vegetables M2 Day Calories Proteins Fats Carbohydrates
Carrot 2 113 50 1.2 0.22 12
Cucumber 2 226 30 1.6 0.3 6
Garlic 1 57 85 3.63 0.28 18.84
Ginger 1 57 46 1.04 0.43 10.13
Eggplant 1 113 37 0.94 0.26 9.2
Bitter
Gourd 1 168 54 6.05 0.34 10.35
Green Bean 2 226 70 4.12 0.28 16
Onion 2 113 44 1.3 0.18 10
Peapod 1 113 47 3.16 0.23 9
Potato 2 226 180 4.78 0.24 40
Lady fingers
(Okra) 1 168 50 3 0.34 7
Greens 2 226 58 6 0.46 12
Tomato6/16/2018 2 226 48Presentation is copyright
2 of ISH, India0.74 10
Total: 20 2032 668 34.15 3.59 170.52
Commercial Hydroponics- Some Yields
Tons/Acre/Year/Season
• Retail Chains
• Private Investors
• Public Sector Companies
• Hotel Chains
• Fast Food Chains
• Processed Food Industry as Backward Integration
• Railway Catering companies
• Corporate Hospitals
• FFV Exporters
• Large land owners
• NGO’s
• Foreign Retail Companies (Outsourcing)
• Defence establishments
• Public-Private Partnerships.
As a thumb rule- in
the order of one
acre or more.
6/16/2018 Presentation is copyright of ISH, India
General costs of setting up Hydroponic
Greenhouses
• Capital costs.
• Trained Manpower.
• Education required.
• Attention to shifting market demands.
• Attention to crop growing or cultural practices.
• Knowledge of IPM.
• Knowledge of Environment Controls in GH.
• Knowledge of Climate Controls.
• Knowledge of Bio-friendly insects.
6/16/2018 Presentation is copyright of ISH, India
Is the Hydroponics Industry Expanding?
Yes
• Indoor
• Outdoor
• Recycled.(RECIRCULATING)
• Wholesale Channels
• Retail Channels
• Major buyers will be supermarket chains/Export
markets.
• Many producers have formed cooperatives to help
sell their produce.
• Producers specialize in one or two types of produce
mainly and have full control over their produce.
• Makes any land with good water source useful for production.
• Nutrient and pH controls very accurate and effective.
• High Yields from lesser spaces.
• Facilitates the easy adoption of IPM.
Climate certainty.
• Root zone temperature is maintained.
• Effective drainage and availability of root level Oxygen.
• Production possible in difficult environments.
• Some crops need closed environments. Cross Pollination
avoided.
• Needs less land to grow more. Conserves water by lower
usage..
• Contd…….
6/16/2018 Presentation is copyright of ISH, India
Strengths…..
• Produce can get premium prices.
• Produce appeals to discerning customers.
• Can target niche markets.
• Can be set up in urban areas without disturbing the ecology.
• Less labor means lesser costs.
• As hydroponic growers increase, dedicated supply chains will be
established.
• There is a market potential for hydroponic produce.
• Growers can specialize in just one product.
• Hydroponics help is now available in India.
• Dedicated Hydroponic Food Parks are a near term reality.
• Research centers in Hydroponics can help create and disseminate
protocols and cultural practices for vegetables, herbs, flowers and
aromatic and medicinal plants.
6/16/2018 Presentation is copyright of ISH, India
Weaknesses
• No industry association or bodies in hydroponics yet, save the ISH,
in Bangalore.
• Higher Capex.
• Needs highly effective marketing.
• Growers must specialize and carve a niche for themselves.
• Branding is a must for success.
• The technology is quite new to India, but help is available.
• Needs more diligence and devotion.
• Manpower at the moment is virtually available, save for a few who
have learnt and practice Simplified Hydroponics.
• Cannot compete with soil grown produce and not comparable
“apple to apple”.
• No universities teach Hydroponics in India. No dedicated research
yet.