Vertical Farming in India

India’s majority population relies on agriculture for a living.

What is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is a unique concept of growing food in line with indoor farming, urban agriculture, and controlled agriculture environment.
Instead of horizontally on the ground like traditional farming, vertical farming grows crops in vertical, stacked layers without putting too much impact on land and water resources which are scarce.
It includes soilless farming techniques, among others.
Vertical farming is done in constantly monitored and adjusted factor of productions such as temperature, lighting, nutrients, irrigation and air circulation.
Vertical Farming is growing plants in vertically stacked layers.
In vertical farming soil, hydroponic or aeroponic growing methods can be used.
Where arable land is less, at those places vertical farming is used.

Such places are mountainside towns, deserts and cities grow a different type of fruits and vegetables.

Background

Notably, in 1915, Gilbert Ellis Bailey coined the term vertical farming and he went on to write a namesake book.
The modern concept was first proposed in 1999 by Professor Dickson Despommier.

His concept centered on the idea that urban areas should grow their own food which can save time and resources required for transportation.

Hydroponics: To reduce soil-related cultivation issues, hydroponics involves growing food in water by using its natural, mineral content.
Aeroponics: It is said that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) motivated the initiative of aeroponics to find an efficient way to grow plants in space in the 1990s.

Since there is no one growing medium, nutrient solutions are sprayed over plants, which requires very less eater, no soil, and minimal space.

Aquaponics: The term combines fish farming and hydroponics. The nutrient-rich waste from fish tanks serves as a fertiliser for the hydroponic plants.

Year-round crop production
Eliminates agricultural runoff
Significantly reduces use of fossil fuels (farm machines and transport of crops)
Makes use of abandoned or unused properties
No weather related crop failures
Offers the possibility of sustainability for urban centers