Yussouf Khan, a horticulturist from Himachal Pradesh practices protected cultivation at his farm. He has six greenhouses that provide ideal growth conditions for the plants.
Indoor plants are known for being low-maintenance with a lower chance of contracting diseases. A horticulturist in Himachal Pradesh is furthering this idea by growing plants using only nutrient-rich water on his farm.
After conducting four years of research, 51-year-old Yussouf Khan has been growing fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, capsicums mushrooms and cabbage, on his farm in Una village. “While I was pursuing my post-graduation in plant pathology and mycology, I came to know that plants can be grown using only nutrient-rich water, which also has more benefits,” Yussouf tells The Better India.
Admitting that he had no idea about this process earlier, he adds, “In 2013, I began my research, and eventually began cultivation in 2017. The first crops I tried to grow were cucumber and lettuce, which can be grown in just nutrient-rich water. While installing the hydroponics, I planted the crops in pyramidal rows of PVC pipes, and they would receive their food through the solution of water and nutrients.”
Yussouf practices protected cultivation at his farm. He has six greenhouses that provide ideal growing conditions for the plants and protect them from pests and unfavourable weather. He has also installed a tank containing the water and nutrient solution on his farm. From here, water goes to another tank, travels through a pump, and reaches the plant. This procedure is circulated over and over.