A RISE OF HYDROPONICS THE FUTURE URBAN FARMING AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRICULTURE – AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

the looming threat posed by global change. We all understand that this catastrophe was inevitable given the continual depletion of fossil fuels, pure air, water, and other resources. However, one method to maximise the usefulness of the materials at hand is hydroponics. In this modern age Plants can be grown without soil using horticulture techniques, which in India is the greatest thing that could happen. That's because factors like trained labor, water availability, seed, soil quality, and weather have always been important in Indian agriculture. Additionally, the expansion of food output has always come at the expense of water availability. According to some figures, agriculture uses up more than 70% of the freshwater resources. Would you think that agriculture is also responsible for 70% of the water contamination in addition to all of the above? With the use of high-tech hydroponic farms and urban gardening, it is possible to produce food in urban areas. You wouldn't believe it, but hydroponic farming is gradually emerging as a powerful answer to improving nutrition and addressing disruptions in the food chain supply. The numerous benefits of hydroponics are what account for its worldwide and widespread adaptability in India. For instance, this farming technique produces better yields while requiring very little labour. Compared to conventional farms, plants develop more quickly. Growing concern over the food quality in the recent pas among the masses, one of a survey by Environment Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI)carried out where, five upscale supermarkets, five local markets, "organic stores," and Hopcoms were choosen to check for the presence of heavy metals, samples of ten different vegetables were analyzed: brinjal, tomato, capicum, bean, carrot, green chili, onion, potato, spinach, and coriander. Although the maximum amount of iron that can be consumed is 425.5 mg/kg, the concentration of 810.20 mg/kg of beans, 945.70 mg/kg of coriander, and 554.58 mg/kg of spinach were found in beans purchased from reputable organic stores. Onions had the highest iron content among the Hopcoms vegetables, with 592.18 mg/kg. The majority of the veggies analyzed, whether from small retail establishments or supermarkets, had levels of heavy metals higher than allowed. In the midst of unethical food farming, the study is to examine the new way of farming in urban India (Vertical Farming) to mitigate the pressure on the Agri sector in India. On the other hand, to streamline how Startup’s can tap the growing demand for agri-ouputs in the urban conglomerates by keeping the food standards as per the FAO and to generate employment.

Keywords: Population growth, hydroponics, climate change, food chain supply, food security, Startup’s in India, nutrient film technique (NFT), Urban Farmers, unethical farming