Vadodara-resident Shashank Chaubey determined to develop his personal meals after he learn an article that claimed that the greens grown on floodplains of the Yamuna river had been contaminated with heavy steel content material. 

Triggered by this information, he took issues into his personal fingers, however he quickly realised how area was a constraint for him. 

Instead, the engineer determined to offer aquaponics farming a strive. Whereas brainstorming, he had additionally gravitated in direction of hydroponics however in the end selected aquaponics.

“The main distinction between hydroponic and aquaponic setup is the media used to supply vitamins to the soil. It has an analogous setup of hydroponics however with a further fish tank to breed fish. The fish excreta is decomposed by micro organism into nitrate which is a perfect fertiliser for crops. It’s like imitating the river ecology. Via this fish tank, water is regulated all through small tanks that maintain crops,” says Shashank. He upcycled drums and cans to make use of as fish tanks.

In addition to nitrates produced by fish waste, he additionally provides iron nails, lime and egg shells to extend the iron and calcium vitamins. After six months of analysis and help from ICAR-CAFRI, he efficiently grew greens in a 600 sq ft space for 3 years. 

In 2018, he determined to stop his job and develop greens in a business terrace setup.

Presently, he grows almost 2,500 types of crops, which embrace inexperienced leafy greens, medicinal herbs, and flowers and harvests 500 kg of greens each month.

Discovered his work fascinating? Watch this brief video to seek out out extra:

(Edited by Padmashree Pande)