The Promise and Challenge of Vertical Farming in India

Cultivating and growing crops or plants in vertically stacked layers and vertically inclined surfaces is known as vertical farming. The world is on the verge of a population explosion, and feeding everyone is the most pressing concern. Per capita land area has decreased due to population growth. In the past, agricultural scientists used their creative thinking to create hybrid or improved high-yielding varieties, better methods, better tools and implements, integrated practices in water, nutrient, insect, and pest management, greenhouse technology, and even genetically modified crops in an effort to feed the world’s growing population.

These once — revolutionary initiatives now seem insufficient. The goal of vertical farming has entirely altered in the modern day, and it is now limited to using every available square inch of land and space — rural or urban — to produce as much food as possible for the world’s hungry. All around the world, it has now become a new farming technology. Vertical farming is taking over in India as well. With significant net returns, vertical farming is attracting a lot of entrepreneurs. Buildings, warehouses, roofs, and balconies are all suitable locations for vertical farming.

Advantages of vertical farming

1. The primary benefit of vertical farming is its ability to produce incredibly high yields per unit of available land or area.

2. Producing food year-round without being vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, severe rains, irregular rainfall, hail, snowfall, drought, dry spells, very high temperatures, cold waves, pest and disease outbreaks, etc.

3. It lowers transportation costs for loads of food grains from rural to urban regions and lessens the likelihood of spoiling. The amount of fossil fuels used to transport agricultural products from rural areas to urban areas has also decreased.

4. The consumption of water in vertical farming is 70-95 per cent lower than in conventional farming.

5. Because vertical farming requires 90 per cent less soil or none at all, insect and disease infestations are avoided.

6. Since no pesticides are used, food that is pesticide-free or organic is produced.

7. Customers receive fresh products with all of their natural nutritional characteristics since the food supply chain is shortened.

8. High production per unit area, meaning that vertical farming produces over 80 per cent greater yield per unit of area.

9. Urban areas will become greener, and it will help lower increasing temperatures and, most importantly, air pollution in cities.

Disadvantages of vertical farming

1. The main issue is the initial, exorbitant expense of setting up the vertical farming system. It will cover the cost of building the buildings as well as their automation, such as weather control, programmable LED lighting, automated racking and stacking, remote control and software, computerised and monitoring systems, etc.

2. High energy costs since artificial lighting is used only for plant growth.

3. If not managed, the extra nutrients employed in vertical farming might disrupt and damage the primary metropolitan water supply.

4. Even a tiny amount of heat from LED lighting systems can make it difficult to control temperatures, particularly during the summer, and can overload air conditioning systems, which will result in higher energy costs.

5. With vertical farming, a lot of trash, plant waste, etc., will be produced surrounding the structures, which must be disposed of appropriately.

6. At first, a skilled workforce will be lacking and will require training.

Feasibility of vertical farming

India is among the top producers of fruits, vegetables, and a wide range of other agricultural products. Vertical farming has been adopted in India. Experts at ICAR are developing the idea of “vertical farming” under soilless settings, which would allow food crops to be grown without the need for soil or pesticides, even on multi-story buildings in cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and New Delhi. Researchers at Nadia’s Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya have already made some progress on hydroponically vertical farming on a modest scale. Vertical farming has been used on a small scale in Punjab and Nadia, West Bengal. In Nadia, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidhalaya has had some success cultivating tomatoes and brinjal. Punjab has also been successful in using vertical gardening to produce potato tubers. An Indian design-in-tech firm called Idea Farms produces vertical farms, which are popular because their food is organic, of excellent quality, and their supply is reliable.

Greenopia, a firm located in Bangalore, sells packages that include the appropriate seeds, enhanced soil, and smart self-watering containers. The sensor-embedded pots alert you when you need to add more water from outside sources and replace soil moisture as needed. U-Farm Technologies, a start-up company located in Mumbai, is customising modular farms for supermarkets or individual residential complexes, utilising the hydroponic growing technology. India is seeing an increasing number of vertical farming start-ups.

Critical issues in Indian farming, such as an excess or shortage of agricultural products, excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides, degraded soils, and even unemployment, may undoubtedly be resolved by vertical farming.

However, there are obstacles, such as the Indian farming community’s reluctance to embrace vertical farming. Indian farmers are dealing with a number of issues, such as water shortage, lack of electrical supply throughout the day, guaranteeing minimum support prices, and little control over market surplus.

A significant obstacle to the adoption of vertical farming in India is the initial, exorbitant cost of infrastructure for a large-scale farm. Other issues facing vertical farming in India include public awareness, the agricultural community’s inclusivity, technical know-how, the expense of maintaining and administering the systems, and the industry’s economic sustainability.

(The writer is Assistant Professor Agronomy, Surajmal University,  Udham Singh Nagary. Views are personal)