Rich harvest for start-ups as hydroponics takes root

Transfer over natural and organic foods. Well being aware customers are likely just one stage in advance, heading for hydroponic make or fruits and vegetables developed without soil, and more and more found on urban rooftops. Observing a increasing chance, a complete host of start-ups has waded into hydroponic farming, giving pesticide-free of charge fruits and vegetables.

Get, for instance, Bengaluru-primarily based Dwelling Meals Organization backed by several angel buyers and VC fund Amasia.

“We are observing a development of virtually 200 per cent each and every quarter in conditions of gross sales and new consumer onboarding,” states Akash Sajith, Founder and CEO.

Pune-primarily based Nutrifresh is a further start-up that is up to its knees in hydroponic farming, with the idea of furnishing wholesome, residue-free of charge foods. With its four-hectare hydroponic farm on the outskirts of Pune, Nutrifresh has been serving customers in Pune and Mumbai, and now has ambitious growth options.

Substantial possible found

On the other hand Nutrifresh founder Sanket Mehta admits there are problems. “Due to the better established-up value for hydroponic farming, the value of the make is also superior.” On the other hand, he states, as soon as the economies of scale kick in, the segment has large possible to increase. “It also assists farmers get continuous profits and decrease dependence on monsoon,” states Mehta.

It is not just start-ups. Many established players have received into hydroponics as effectively. For instance, Noida-primarily based FMCG main DS Group is promoting hydroponically-developed new vegetables and fruits this sort of as candy and cherry tomatoes, snack cucumbers, sweet snack peppers, bell peppers, and strawberries beneath the brand name identify Nature’s Miracle. DS group’s four-hectare glass greenhouse farm in Higher Noida is managed by a workforce of agriculturalists educated in the Netherlands. Nature’s Miracle new vegetables and fruits are dispatched each and every working day to 12 towns, and marketed in DS Group’s possess retail chain Le Marche.

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

Enlargement strategy

According to Anchal Kumar, Partner, Nature’s Miracle, the organization options to expand its hydroponic footprint in the coming yrs to fulfill the increasing desire.

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

For those wanting to get into hydroponics, there is aid at hand as effectively. Gurugram-primarily based agritech organization Barton Breeze, which has tied up with quite a few banking companies like Point out Lender of India and HDFC Lender is giving bank warranty to those who want to get into hydroponics. The organization promises a return of thirty per cent on investment every year to progressive farmers who want to get into this increasing subject.