Growing more with less

Presentation is copyright HGTIPL India and
2/23/2012 1
the Pet Bharo Project

Commercial Hydroponics in India-The
Opportunity is Here
• Presented by Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash, Farmer-
in-Chief, HGTIPL, Hydroponic Greenhouse
Technologies India Private Limited, Bangalore,
India.
www.petbharoproject.co.in

Global Agri-Business Incubation Conference,
NIABI 2012, IARI Complex, Pusa, New Delhi
www.niabi.in
2/23/2012 2

This Presentation Aims….

• To introduce a technology called Soil-less
Cultivation/Hydroponics. Is it an idea who
time has come? Yes, Sure it has.
• To impress upon agri-business entrepreneurs
the value of using this wonderful and
marvellous technology that removes many ifs
and buts. TO ESTABLISH THE VIABILITY OF
HYDROPONICS IN COMMERCIAL TERMS
2/23/2012 3

What is Hydroponics

• Is the practice of growing plants without soil.
• Plants can be grown in plain nutrient solution or in
sterile substrates, therefore microbe free.
• Hydroponics uses less than 1/10th - 1/5th of the
water used in soil cultivation. Saves a lot of water.
• No weeds to deal with. Less space, higher yields.

Commercial Hydroponics- Some Yields
Tons/Acre/Year/Season

• Lettuce 300-400 Tons
• Strawberries 50 Tons
• Cucumber 200 Tons
• Tomato 180-200 Tons
• Bell Pepper 120-140 Tons

*Note: Figures are from world averages
2/23/2012 Presentation is copyright of ISH, India

Summary of the Benefits

 Reduced water consumption
 Improved Produce Quality
 Increased Yields and Growth Rates
 Longer Shelf Life
 Less labour inputs .
 Higher Value Crops
 Extended Growing Season
 Happier Workers
 Lower Labour Costs
 Pests and Diseases
 No Soil – No Problem
 Environment Control
 Market Control

Possible Beneficiaries from Commercial Hydroponics

• 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.

* FFV-Fresh Fruits and Vegetables


Commercial Hydroponic Horticulture

World Hydroponics –Acreage under cultivation
• There has been massive growth in hydroponic cultivation in a number of
developed countries.
• For instance, in Australia, the area under hydroponic crop production went from
155 to 2500 hectares from 1990 to 2008.
• This is just the beginning.
• The world commercial hydroponics industry has grown 4 to 5 fold in the last 10
years and is currently estimated at between 20,000 and 25,000 hectares with a
farm gate value of US$6 to 8 Billion.
The new belief
• The future lies in locally grown and sold produce limiting the ‘food miles’.
• This method of growing our food is a more sustainable model than those currently
practised.
• The consumer is becoming increasingly concerned over health issues,
environmental issues, even water consumption cost and availability……… these all
are drivers for the further development of hydroponic growing techniques.

Government Support/R&D
•There has not been any visible support from the Indian
government to promote Hydroponics in India.
•No agricultural university in India has even a simple lab that does
R&D in this field.
•There is a lot of negative talk about Hydroponics as a viable
method without sufficient knowledge of facts.
•There is a huge import duty of almost 26 pc on import of hi-tech
hydroponic greenhouses.
•What is gained by subsidy is nullified by hefty customs duties.
•Hydroponics is a precise science tested in many parts of the world
with immense success, but never given any importance in India.
•There are no efforts to give subsidies for hydroponic nutrients.
•Total unflinching support for users of this method is no longer an
option but a neccessity.
• Public Private Partnership in this field ISH, India
2/23/2012 Presentation is copyright of is a must.

General costs of setting up Hydroponic
Greenhouses

• Between 150-200 USD per Sq.m in
developed countries.
• In India available at 45-55 USD
per Sq.m

Commercial success is linked to…

• Establishment of venture in realistic economic
framework.
• Attention to market requirements before start
up.
• Realistic expectation of prices, yields, labor
requirements.
• Experience in prior horticultural pursuits.


Is it a magical production system?

• No. Not Plug and Play.
• Needs diligence and devotion.
• Is not forgiving.
• Needs skill but achievable.
• Over confidence can kill crops.

Basics needed to start a Hydroponics Industry in India.

• 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.

How is Hydroponic Produce marketed
normally?

It is marketed more on the quality and
consistency, rather than the method of
production.


International trends in the Industry

• Internationalization of supply of FFV.
• Producers must join this system for survival.
• Forward linkages with Intl food companies.
• Producers working in clusters. (Info sharing and marketing
cost sharing)
• International rationalization of production and standards.


Opportunity India
• Production and labor costs in developed countries increasing
thereby need to import high quality cheaper produce is
increasing.
• India has rich climatic conditions positioning us favorably to
market such produce.
• Labor costs in India as well as inputs makes India an ideal
destination for food outsourcing. After IT it’s AT!!!
• Indian producers can address both domestic as well as
International markets such as ME/EU/USA/Far East.
• Has intelligent manpower. Can learn fast the operating
protocols.
• A country that can produce super-computers, satellites can
definitely adopt Hydroponics easily in the author’s view.

Marketing Channels for Hydroponic Produce

• 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.


Export Sales

• Sales opportunities abound from Indian producers
due to better production costing achievable.
• Markets are in USA, EU, Far and Middle East.
• India has excellent connectivity to above by land,
sea and air.
• Freight costs from India are high at this time and
with better governmental support can be alleviated.


Seasonality of production

Hydroponic Greenhouses are capable of producing
year round which includes off season vegetables
and herbs due to controlled conditions.


Hydroponics in India-Present Status

• To the best of our knowledge….

• Hydroponics is being practiced by some floriculturists in Gujarat,
Maharashtra and Karnataka states presently. Our project at Bangalore of
one acre grows strawberries while the second project at Coimbatore grows
Lettuce and Herbs. Our Third Project has commenced in Lusaka, Zambia
which is two full acres , for Capsicum and Strawberries. Our fourth Project
will commence near Devanahalli, Bangalore for strawberries by 01st April
12. A fifth Project will start in Gujarat by May 2012.

• The other Hydroponics being practiced is Simplified Hydroponics learnt by
individuals, corporates, NGO’s etc from the Institute of Simplified
Hydroponics, Bangalore. References are available on request. There are
other individual hobbyists too.


Commercial Hydroponics


Simplified Hydroponics


2/23/2012 23

Commercial Hydroponics Projects-India & Abroad

Hydroponic Greenhouse Technologies India Private
Limited, Bangalore

1. One acre Strawberry Hydroponics at Bangalore
2. One acre Lettuce and Herbs Project-Coimbatore
3. 2 Acres project for Capsicum and Strawberry,
at Lusaka, Zambia, Africa
4. One acre Strawberry Farm at Devanahalli,
Bangalore commencing 01st Apr 2012

Conclusion-1
• The Commercial Hydroponics industry is a
successful industry and is rapidly expanding.
• The market is larger than opined as produce is sold
on quality rather than production method.
• Hydroponics cannot displace bulk commodity items.
• The industry is expected to grow exponentially as
conditions of soil growing is becoming difficult.
• Government intervention and university interest
can propel the use of this technology.
Our Iceberg is melting, Let’s do
something…QUICKLY..

2/23/2012 26

Conclusion-2
• We at HGTIPL aim to be a full spectrum Hydroponics One Stop Shop
in India covering the following areas:
• Nutrient Manufacturing and Sales
• Turnkey installations of Commercial scale GH.
• Manufacturing and Sales of Animal Fodder Hydroponic Systems.
• A Centre of Hydroponics Excellence in areas of training in
Hydroponics.
• Using worldwide HR in terms of professional contacts establish
world ‘s best practice in Commercial Hydroponics.
• Consult , Audit and Train GH Personnel in India.
• Set up Hydroponic Food Parks in vicinity of big cities of India , thus
reducing “Food Miles”, providing Pesticide free fresh produce and
reducing carbon footprint.

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Why HGTIPL?

• Turnkey Installations of Commercial GH
Systems
• Training in Hydroponics
• Manpower & Consultancy services
• Sales of Hydroponic Nutrients
• Manufacturing & Sales of Hydroponic Fodder
Systems

2/23/2012 37

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