"Aquaponics is bringing new hope to Uttarakhand's Himalayan farmers," says Prabhat Ramola, Chief Operating Officer at Mountstribe Agritech. "Our farm combines traditional wisdom with modern technology to create a sustainable way of farming that saves water and brings income back to the hills."
According to Ramola, Mountstribe Agritech was born from the need to address outmigration, barren terraces, and lower farm productivity in the region. "Our founder, Kumar Ravi Bibhuty, saw a chance to blend age-old farming knowledge with IoT-enabled cold-water aquaponics, a system where fish and plants grow together using 90% less water than traditional soil farming while creating steady livelihoods for local families."
© Mountstribe Agritech
Ramola highlights the flagship farm in Tehri, where they raise Himalayan Rainbow Trout along with kale, arugula, bok choy, and microgreens. "Each production cycle yields around 10 tonnes of trout and 20 tonnes of greens annually in a 1,000-square-meter recirculatory farm, which uses real-time sensors and smart water recycling systems to keep conditions just right."
Cold-water aquaponics is still largely new in India, with the market valued under USD 50 million but growing fast due to urban demand for organic, chemical-free food, Ramola highlights. "While a few Indian farms are experimenting with warm-water aquaponics, cold-water aquaponics is virtually untapped. Our focus on trout makes us unique here."
Ramola points out challenges like high setup costs, technical know-how, and limited rural cold-chain. They overcome these through IoT monitoring, Biofloc and RAS systems, and training local youth as operators to build community knowledge and job opportunities.
© Mountstribe Agritech
Ramola also acknowledges the support received from the government and investors as crucial. "Mountstribe has been backed by BIRAC's BIG Grant through FITT-IIT Delhi and is aligned closely with national schemes like PMMSY and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. We're also in talks with the National Fisheries Development Board for project assistance."
He adds, "For impact and ESG-focused investors, aquaponics offers a high-growth, low-carbon opportunity. As India moves toward climate-smart agriculture, there's huge potential for foreign direct investment in sustainable aquaculture and IoT-enabled agritech."
© Mountstribe Agritech
For now, Mountstribe serves restaurants, cafes, and organic retailers, as well as consumers directly through fresh greens subscription boxes. They also train farmers and educational institutions in sustainable aquaponics. Looking ahead, Ramola plans to expand to five Himalayan districts, set up community farms, and commercialize an AI-powered IoT dashboard for yield optimization and disease control. "Our vision is to make Uttarakhand the Aquaponics Capital of India, and set a standard for carbon-neutral, sustainable agriculture."
"At its heart, Mountstribe is not just about growing fish and greens. It's about growing hope in regions once labeled 'ghost villages.' Where youth had abandoned farming, we're seeing people return, train, and grow. Every IoT sensor we install is more than just collecting data, it's reconnecting people to their land," Ramola concludes.
For more information:
Mountstribe Agritech
Ravi Bibhuty
Tel:+91 63 97 594 584
Email: [email protected]
Prabhat Ramola
Tel:+91 94 11 632 484
Email: [email protected]
www.mountstribe.com
