Why spend energy on transport when the vegetables can be grown on-site, absolutely anywhere? I assume Hydroponics is the future of predictable delivery of healthy greens for the hyper cities in India.

The pros of Hydroponics

The process contains no soil or pesticides. The greens grow directly in circulating water with nutrient. The water that is used in the process is clean, and the consumption is 80% less than in traditional farming.

Everything in a hygienic indoor environment -where water, temperature, humidity, light, PH and nutrient is controlled by sensors and software.

The area needed is considerably less, since the height of the room is utilized to a maximum. The cycle is faster and yield higher than in conventional outdoor farming.

Ajay went from software development to hydroponic farming, and  is now growing vegetables in-house. His market is local restaurants and shops. He is also working on his own software to control even more factors involved in the process. He is also testing out different natural nutrients to deserve the organic stamp on his food.

Cons?

With the strong Indian sun just one floor up, it seems kind of odd to have plants growing in an air-conditioned and artificially lit environment – powered by an assumed not so renewable electricity source. I am sure a greener solution is on its way.

I am leaving his facility with a big bag of different lettuce and my favorite herb coriander. It could’t have be fresher, since it was harvested after I placed my order.

-it will also last longer then normal vegetables because of the high water content, Ajay told me on the way out.

Ajay is the first person in India telling me NOT to wash the lettuce before eating it. 6 days later the vegetables in my fridge look as good as new, and I haven’t experienced any side effects so far 🙂