We have designed an off-grid solar powered hydroponic greenhouse, primarily for the purpose of ensuring a base income for communities heavily reliant on agriculture. A spectrum of solutions have been presented and prototyped. However, the commonality of these solutions is their soil-less nature and vertical scalability. This was not a mere coincidence, but rather a design constraint, as we intended to keep the model agnostic to local conditions and improve upon the land use factor as well. Arduino (ATmega328P) microcontrollers have been used for logic development and prototyping. Locally available and recycled materials have been used for greenhouse construction.
Farmer suicides have been one of India's unsolved social issues. Widows of farmer suicide victims (among other disadvantaged groups) will have an opportunity for re-integration into the social fabric. Community level solutions are being envisioned for field deployment, which would ensure economic feasibility besides meso-scale capacity building. The adaptability of the design is not only in its modular nature, but also lies in the 3-tiered plan of incremental field evolution of the model. This is outlined as follows:
Stage 1: Green Fodder Unit - The cheapest implementation of the model to supplement farmer income with increased livestock productivity, thus ensuring a stable base income. Primary (fodder entrepreneurship) and secondary (sale of livestock products) income models can be harnessed by the communities. No prior supply chain is necessary, rendering this the perfect cold start for under-served communities.
Stage 2: Mushroom Growing Units - The displaced biomass (hay, straw, residue) as a result of green fodder introduction is to be used as substrate for mushroom cultivation, thereby ensuring that the waste from stage 1 serves as the raw material for stage 2. Both gourmet and medicinal mushrooms can be cultivated according to the time of year and the market demand.
Stage 3: Hydroponic Exotic Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers - Hydroponic systems can finally be integrated into the model, opening up promising revenue streams to these off-grid communities. This stage is to be leveraged only after a supply chain has been established, owing to the limited shelf life of these products in their natural form. In an extreme situation, this can also be countered by value addition (jams, herb mixes, dried flowers) to increase shelf life.
The solar path of democratised vertical farming holds tremendous potential for alleviation of poverty, reduction in carbon and water footprint, and reduction in import dependancy. This design brings together soil science, electronics, building simulation, food markets and alternative agriculture under the umbrella of solar power, enabling it to empower millions without access to the grid.
Well done...very innovative. Wishing u all success & happiness.
Good work 👏. Keep going..
super innovation! wish a great success to master Basak and all team members 👍👍👍
Brilliant innovation. Never seen before. Wish all the team members a great success in their initiative 🙂👍👍
The future of our country is in good hands. Great initiative
Great initiative
Great ....
Superb 👌👍
Brilliant
Very good initiative - need of the day. All the best.
Brilliant Initiative !!!! Keep it going brother 👍👍