Amal A. Ashok is not from a traditional farming family. But he is a successful farmer who does not need soil. He believes in the proverb that if there is a will, there is a way. He learnt hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil but by using water-based mineral nutrient solutions. Amal experimented with hydroponics and is today a representative of new-age farmers who adopt scientific and innovative methods to make farming a successful business venture.

Amal, who grows plants with their roots in nutritious liquid on 20,000 square feet, is confident that hydroponics will be a part of the future of Kerala's agriculture system.

The young man chased his dream of founding an enterprise even when he was studying. A resident of Vettikavala in Kottarakkara in Kollam district, Amal spent hours researching online for a venture that would interest him, and he came across videos of hydroponics. The flourishing lettuce, celery, basil, and kale attracted him. His first try was spinach. He grew them using deep water culture in a bucket. The yield was impressive.

The experiment, however, suffered a setback since several farmers were growing spinach, and it did not have a market that Amal expected. He found that hydroponics is best suited for high-value greens, such as lettuce, celery, kale, and cherry tomatoes. Such high-value crops were necessary to make a profit since hydroponics required a huge amount of capital. Armed with this realisation, Amal started growing crops commercially when he was pursuing an MBA. He decided to find the necessary funds by himself.

AIF to the rescue
Amal availed a loan of ₹20 lakh from the central government's Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) two years ago, and established a polyhouse on 4,000 square feet. The loan is free of collateral and based on a detailed project report. Additionally, there was a deduction of three per cent from the nine per cent interest.

The youngster adopted the nutrient film technique in PVC pipes and started growing exotic leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, celery, kale, and basil. Additionally, he grew salad cucumbers in grow bags on the border of his polyhouse. The technique employed was hydroponics. Once harvested, he sold his produce to supermarkets in Kottarakkara town.

Amal said exotic leafy vegetables have much demand in cities in Kerala, while salad cucumbers have takers even in rural areas. He sells lettuce for ₹150 a kilogram, while kale brings in ₹180 to ₹200. Cucumbers sell for an average of ₹60 a kilogram. Since all are short-term crops, Amal said he could plant them six to seven times a year.

A major attraction of hydroponics is that it does not need much effort to plant and grow the vegetables.

A setback
Though Amal had a good beginning, the summer was harsh. Plants got shunted in the heat. The naturally ventilated polyhouses got hotter by at least two degrees than the outside temperature. Using a fogger for creating a fine mist led to another problem. The humidity went up to 90, 20 more than the ideal condition. It led to fungal infections in plants.

Amal did not expect the setback. He lost one entire batch of the crops. The man said such unexpected developments are natural in any venture. He decided to continue farming.

This time, Amal brought in a sensor-enabled fan and pad system instead of a fogger. The system switches off automatically once the humidity crosses 70. In two years, he expanded his farming to 20,000 square feet. He got the Agri Infrastructure Fund easily thanks to his proven efficiency.

Amal vouches that hydroponics is profitable and is determined to continue farming. He, however, added that the crops and techniques should adapt to the changing times.

About hydroponics
Hydroponics is a novel method of farming in which soil is totally avoided. Instead, the plants draw the necessary minerals from the nutrient-rich water.

This method helps in growing plants in less space. Since the water is circulated, hydroponics do not need much water. Deepwater culture, nutrient film technique, ebb and flow, and aeroponics are some of the techniques used. The Agriculture Department provides loans for this innovative farming method.