Source – Net
With ever increasing population and declining agricultural land the University of Jaipur has been working on how best to make use of vertical farming to make most of the resources available.
According to government data available, the average Indian farming practices have gone down by half, hence vertical farming will prove beneficial for farmers as per latest research on the subject.
Trials on this new farming technique are being done at Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur and the results have been very positive.
After the research bears fruit common folk will be able to produce their useful vegetables on rooftops.
The speciality of this farming method is that it does not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The researchers of the Center for Agriculture Research are using it under the guidance of agricultural scientist Abhishek Sharma.
Tomato, chilli, cauliflower, broccoli, sugar cabbage, pokchai, basil, red cabbage are being produced.
In the coming days, this research can be effective in areas of low rainfall throughout western India. Being organic, these vegetables are also sold expensive.
Vertical cultivation can also be said to be stagnant in the day to day language.
It can be done in open and walls of buildings and apartments can also be used. Vertical farming is a multi-level system.
A tank filled with water as the lowest feeder of the vertical structure is kept. Small pots of plants are kept in the upper sections. By means of a pump, water is transported in very small amount.
Nutrients are already mixed in this water. The plants grow faster with LED lights acting as an additional source of energy. This system does not require soil. Vegetables and fruits grown in this way are more nutritious and fresh compared to farms. If this farming is done on the roof then it will have to be done under controlled temperature.
While researchers and those practicing this first hand are positive, whether or not vertical farming is beneficial for the farmer on ground zero is going to be the biggest challenge and factor that needs to be kept in mind.
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