In spite of a number of problems stalling the progress of agriculture in India, it is still the

backbone of the economy. According to statistics, approximately 65% of the Indian

population depend directly on agriculture as their livelihood. Agriculture also accounts for
around 22% of the annual gross domestic product (GDP). Due to its high rural population and
agrarian history, India is one of the top producers in the world of fruits and vegetables. Here
is an Indian agriculture overview that identifies some of the main characteristics of this
industry:

Major Crops:
India is home to a wide variety of crops, including:

Rice

Wheat

Sugarcane

Oilseeds

Pulses

Cotton

Millet

Tea

Coffee

Coconut

Cashew

Rubber

Spices

Cauliflower

Onion

Cabbage

Mango

Banana

Lime

Tomatoes


Cucumbers
This project is inspired by the desire to empower one to be able to grow food locally and
naturally without the use of harmful pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Although Indian
Agriculture has come a long way, there are certain implications that have to be addressed for
national and nutritional security. Our population is expected to be 1.4 billion by 2020. The
increasing population, coupled with growing income will generate increased demand for food
grains and non-food grain crops. Therefore, Indian agriculture has to achieve a higher growth
rate targeted at 4 per cent per annum on a sustainable basis. Acceleration of growth of this
sector will not only push the overall GDP growth upwards, it would also make the growth
more inclusive.
The reasons are many from wanting to know exactly what is going into our food, to the sheer
price we pay compared to what it costs us to grow it cleanly and pick it fresh. The bounty of
nature is only real if we understand and use it without depleting it. Aquaponics offers us and
those who join this community a chance to do all this and more. From a single balcony unit
as small as a couple of feet across to mammoth green houses of abundance ,aquaponic
goodness is accessible to all people of all walks of life.
What exactly is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants
without soil). It works so efficiently because of the recirculating water system. Fish waste
provides all the nutrients that plants need to flourish, so the water from the fish tanks gets
filtered to the plants. The plants then clean the water and this gets sent back to the fish.
Is it new?
Well, in mainstream terms yes. Dr James Rakocy and his team at the University of the Virgin
Islands spent 30 years (from 1980) developing aquaponic technology to how we use it today.
However soilless farming has a long (but largely forgotten) history. There is evidence to show
that Ancient Aztec, Egyptian and Chinese civilizations all used a system of growing plants
without soil, above fish.
Is aquaponics a viable business opportunity?
Yes. There are so many benefits to aquaponics. After the cost of the initial set-up is out the
way, there is very little financial input required the system largely runs on its own, and only
needs someone to oversee it. Therefore overheads are very low long man hours and
expensive fertilizers are just not necessary!
Who will buy my produce?
There is an increasing demand for organic and good quality produce not only from general
consumers but also restaurants and hotels that often require unusual, out-of-season and non-

native ingredients. These can all be grown in an aquaponics system. Provided people need to
eat, an aquaponics grower will always be in business!
What are the benefits to me?
Once the system is good-to-go it is very cheap to run. An aquaponics system grows fruit,
vegetables and herbs at roughly twice the rate that they grow normally (in soil), so as a
business owner you will have a high turnover. A large amount of crops can be grown in much
smaller areas (so owning large areas of land is not a requirement), and uses only 10% of the
water that normal farming gets through.
Where should I set up my aquaponics system?
This depends on the scale you wish to operate. Large companies may choose to set up a big,
commercial system, whereas small-business owners who are new to aquaponics will probably
opt for a smaller back yard system. This doesnt necessarily need to be in a rural
environment. In the West, aquaponics has made news for its ability to grow a large number of
crops in a relatively small area even on urban rooftops! So if you wanted to, you could
grow food right in the city centre.
Can the fish be eaten and sold too?
Yes, And they are completely organic as well as the plants. Fun fact: an aquaponics system
has to be organic due to the recirculating water, if you spray pesticides on the plants the
water will become contaminated and the fish die
So, what exactly do I need to do?
After working for about a month to set the system up and ensure everything is in place, you
can largely sit back and relax. Maintenance will be your only responsibility. You will need to
keep an eye on the water PH levels, check on the fish to make sure they are healthy and that
there are no pests lurking. But apart from this people will wonder how you are producing so
much food because you never seem to be working!
Are there any downsides?
Not really, apart from the set-up costs. However once it is up and running you will be able to
grow such a large quantity of food in short amounts of time that you will quickly make this
money back.
Ive heard there is a farming crisis in India, will this affect me?
Essentially no, and this is the beauty of aquaponics. Droughts have been disastrous for Indian
farms in the past, but as an aquaponics system uses a mere 10% of the water that is
traditionally used, this is not something you need to worry about. Poor soil quality has also

caused problems for the traditional Indian farmer but aquaponics is a soilless growing
system, so this is not an issue.

SHOCKING INDIA STATISTICS

ONE THIRD of all world hunger is in India
Over 7000 Indians die of hunger every year
Thats 25 lakh deaths a year
30% of newborns are born underweight
79% of children aged 6 35 months are anemic
Malnutrition is the greatest cause of death in the world beating even aids and cancer
Over 20 Crore Indians sleep hungry every night
There are 820 Million people suffering from chronic hunger worldwide
An Indian farmer commits suicide every 30 minutes due to extreme poverty
With the correct application, backing and education aquaponics can cure all this.

So why do we find ourselves in this global predicament?

In 2000 there were 10 times more people on earth than just 300 years ago.
Predicted to reach 9 billion by 2050.Thus we would need to produce 50% more food
and energy by 2030 to meet our growing demands.
Over extraction of groundwater common place.
Ultimately we have been using our resources unsustainably for far too long. Our

Our constraints are clear

Finite resources
Urban expansion
Increasing population
Food security

 Land Use conflicts

We need to produce more food per unit area, with
less water, less energy and less external inputs.

The solutions are equally clear.

Energy efficiency (getting more from less, valuing waste)

Local production (decreasing transport emissions)
Integrated production (multi use, diverse outputs) and
collocating businesses (consciously)
Enhancing education (enabling a growing generation)
Sustainability (economically, socially& environmentally)

Aquaponics is an amalgam of "Aquaculture" and "Hydroponics" resulting in sustainable

food production system. This technique of growing food is based on natural process
called"NITROGEN CYCLE" where the ammonia excreted by fishes is broken down into
useful nutrients. These nutrients are then being absorbed by plants for their growth and water
is re-circulated back into the system.

Aquaponics serves as a model of sustainable food production by following certain principles:

The waste products of one biological system serve as nutrients for a second biological
system.
The integration of fish and plants results in a polyculture that increases diversity and
yields multiple products.
Water is re-used through biological filtration and recirculation.
Local food production provides access to healthy foods and enhances the local
economy.

There are three main cycles taking place.

Water recirculated and topped up with rainwater harvesting
Wastes fish wastes-nitratesplants, offcuts-worms-fish
Heat heating gains in the day and heat losses at night

IS AQUAPONICS THE ANSWER?

By 2050, the worlds population will have risen by 2 billion people. Are we ready to feed 9
billion mouths? The answer is no we do not even feed all the mouths we already have. Food
is connected to everything we do. Everything we eat was grown by someone, somewhere.
And yet, the gulf between the farmers and what goes on our plate continues to grow ever
bigger. This is despite eating being one of the most important things we do not only do we
die without food, but also the nutritional value of what we put into our bodies determines
largely what we get out of it and how healthy we will be.With the population growing faster
than our resources can keep up, we need to act now if we are to support ourselves in the
future. Sustainability has become the new key word for the future of farming, and for good
reason. Methods of food production that can be maintained without gobbling up water or
taking up too much land are needed. By using only 3% water and growing 10 times the plants
in half the time and in a fraction of the space it is clear that this is a very meaningful step in
the right direction. Once the initial set-up costs are covered an aquaponics system requires
very little up-keep and further cost.With aquaponics the future looks bright and well
nourished.

WHAT PLANTS CAN BE GROWN USING AQUAPONICS?

Many plants can be grown in an aquaponics system, however whether or not these plants will
thrive is dependent on the density of the fish population and the nutrients in the fish waste.
Studies have shown that leafy green vegetables and herbs, including lettuce, herbs, spinach,
chives, bok choy, basil and watercress are naturally suited to an aquaponics environment.
With that said, it is possible to adjust the system in order to satisfy types of plants with higher
or lower nutritional needs. Vegetables such as capsicum, cucumbers, and tomatoes can easily
be cultivated in well-established aquaponics systems that are well-stocked with fish. Others
have grown fruits such as cantaloupe, strawberries, and papayas. Experience has shown that
the only crops that dont respond as well to aquaponics environments are root crops, such as
potatoes and carrots. They seem to need soil to grow properly.

What types of fish can be used with an aquaponics system?

Freshwater fish are most commonly used in aquaponics systems, specifically tilapia. Other
fish species used in aquaponics systems include barramundi, silver perch, eel-tailed catfish,
tandanus catfish, Jade perch, and Murray cod. Freshwater prawns and crayfish are also
sometimes used. Species are usually chosen for their availability and suitability to the local
climate. Koi and goldfish may be used in systems where fish are not being harvested.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS

Media Filled Beds

Media filled beds are the simplest form of aquaponics, they use containers filled
with rock medium of expanded clay or similar. Water from a fish tank is pumped
over the media filled beds, and plants grow in the rock media. This style of
system can be run two different ways, with a continuous flow of water over the
rocks, or by flooding and draining the grow bed, in a flood and drain or ebb and
flow cycle.

NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE (NFT)

Nutrient Film Technique is a commonly used hydroponic method, but is not as
common in aquaponic systems. In NFT systems, nutrient rich water is pumped
down small enclosed gutters, the water flowing down the gutter is only a very
thin film. Plants sit in small plastic cups allowing their roots to access the water
and absorb the nutrients. NFT is only really suitable for certain types of plants,
generally leafy green vegetables, larger plants will have root systems that are
too big and invasive, or they become too heavy for the lightweight growing
gutters.

DEEP WATER CULTURE (DWC)

Deep Water Culture, works on the idea of floating plants on top of the water allowing the
roots to hang down into the water. This can be done in a number of ways. This method is one
of the more commonly practiced commercial methods. DWC can be done by floating a foam
raft on top of the fish tank, however a more common method is to grow the fish in a fish tank
and pump the water through a filtration system, and then into long channels where floating
rafts filled with plants float on the water surface and extract the nutrients.

FUTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Developed nations have been turning their attention to organic produce and sustainable
farming methods (including aquaponics). There is a great potential for these methods to be
used in India, as the prevailing local knowledge traditionally focuses on natural, earthfriendly practices. As of now, many Indian farms are more or less organic, with scant reliance
on chemical inputs. Promotion of similar sustainable methods, such as aquaponics, along
with the installation of a regulating body might be beneficial.
Aquaponics systems have been tested with over 300 different varieties of plants, including
tomatoes, capsicums, lettuce, cabbage, spinach, chillies, cucumber, beans, and peas.
However, they typically do not work with root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes.
The portrait of Indian agriculture is complex. It varies from state to state and although there
are definitely government bodies in place to regulate funding and try to implement changes,
the intended isnt necessarily what happens in most cases, as the government faces challenges
such as corruption. In order to move forward, education needs to happen in rural areas, the
benefits of sustainable farming methods must be explained, and affordable and businessfriendly farming techniques must be implemented.

MAHATMA GANDHI'S VISION

Mahatma Gandhi's vision of a free India was not a nation-state but a confederation of selfgoverning, self-reliant, self-employed people living in village communities, deriving their
right livelihood from the products of their homesteads. Maximum economic and political
power - including the power to decide what could be imported into or exported from the
village - would remain in the hands of the village assemblies. Aquaponics will help India to
achieve the dream.

SCOPE OF PORTABLE AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS

Not only do we grow abundance in our unique roof top gardens, we will display our humble
research to all interested in experiencing the true wonder of nature in action. We will share
our knowledge to promote the wonders of aquaponics to all, and aim to empower all who
visit and learn with us. We will follow a three simple step process to successful aquaponics,
start with a visit to see and be pleasantly surprised, then learn- join us for a learning session,
Begin by building or ordering your system from us to begin your wonderful journey into
aquaponics and start growing as soon as possible (we will stock seeds, seedlings and fish
fingerlings as well).

REFERENCES

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics
http://www.urbagrow.com/
http://aquaponicsinindia.com/
www.backyardaquaponics.com/
http://aquaponics.com/
http://portablefarms.com/
http://aquaponicsuniversity.com/