Rich harvest for start-ups as hydroponics takes root

Move over natural meals. Wellbeing mindful buyers are going a person step forward, heading for hydroponic make or fruits and veggies developed devoid of soil, and more and more seen on city rooftops. Observing a rising possibility, a total host of start-ups has waded into hydroponic farming, presenting pesticide-no cost fruits and veggies.

Consider, for instance, Bengaluru-based mostly Dwelling Food stuff Company backed by various angel traders and VC fund Amasia.

“We are observing a expansion of almost 200 per cent every quarter in terms of sales and new purchaser onboarding,” says Akash Sajith, Founder and CEO.

Pune-based mostly Nutrifresh is an additional start-up that is up to its knees in hydroponic farming, with the concept of giving healthful, residue-no cost meals. With its 4-hectare hydroponic farm on the outskirts of Pune, Nutrifresh has been serving clients in Pune and Mumbai, and now has formidable enlargement strategies.

Large likely seen

Even so Nutrifresh founder Sanket Mehta admits there are problems. “Due to the bigger set-up cost for hydroponic farming, the cost of the make is also substantial.” On the other hand, he says, at the time the economies of scale kick in, the phase has huge likely to develop. “It also will help farmers get constant money and lower dependence on monsoon,” says Mehta.

It is not just start-ups. Quite a few recognized gamers have got into hydroponics as properly. For instance, Noida-based mostly FMCG important DS Group is offering hydroponically-developed fresh new veggies and fruits this sort of as candy and cherry tomatoes, snack cucumbers, sweet snack peppers, bell peppers, and strawberries under the brand identify Nature’s Miracle. DS group’s 4-hectare glass greenhouse farm in Bigger Noida is managed by a group of agriculturalists skilled in the Netherlands. Nature’s Miracle fresh new veggies and fruits are dispatched every day to twelve cities, and offered in DS Group’s own retail chain Le Marche.

It also has tie-ups with e-tailers this sort of as Massive Bazaar and Milk Basket.

Growth approach

According to Anchal Kumar, Companion, Nature’s Miracle, the organization strategies to grow its hydroponic footprint in the coming a long time to meet up with the rising demand.

According to a report by DataM Intelligence, the Indian hydroponic current market is expected to develop at a CAGR of 13.53 per cent concerning 2020 and 2027.

For all those seeking to get into hydroponics, there is enable at hand as properly. Gurugram-based mostly agritech organization Barton Breeze, which has tied up with lots of banks including State Financial institution of India and HDFC Financial institution is presenting financial institution promise to all those who want to get into hydroponics. The organization guarantees a return of 30 per cent on investment every year to progressive farmers who want to get into this rising field.