Amal A. Ashok is not from a traditional farming family. But he is a successful farmer who does not need soil. He believes in the proverb that if there is a will, there is a way. He learnt hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil but by using water-based mineral nutrient solutions.
Amal experimented with hydroponics and is today a representative of new-age farmers who adopt scientific and innovative methods to make farming a successful business venture. Amal, who grows plants with their roots in nutritious liquid on 20,000 square feet, is confident that hydroponics will be a part of the future of Kerala's agriculture system.
The young man chased his dream of founding an enterprise even when he was studying. A resident of Vettikavala in Kottarakkara in Kollam district, Amal spent hours researching online for a venture that would interest him, and he came across videos of hydroponics. The flourishing lettuce, celery, basil, and kale attracted him. His first try was spinach. He grew them using deep water culture in a bucket. The yield was impressive.
The experiment, however, suffered a setback since several farmers were growing spinach, and it did not have a market that Amal expected. He found that hydroponics is best suited for high-value greens, such as lettuce, celery, kale, and cherry tomatoes. Such high-value crops were necessary to make a profit since hydroponics required a huge amount of capital.
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