By Abdul Wahid Saleem
The concept of farming arose for a sustainable living from the very early times. With the purpose of providing a constant supply of food throughout the year humans evolved around the farms they built. The evolution opened up to a settlement for the society. Over the years and with increasing population, the amount of space has decreased whereas the demand for food has increased rapidly. In order to meet the increased demand for food, many MNCs have adopted artificial or chemically produced vegetables and fruits that not only affects the consumers but also takes a toll on Earth.
People have come to the realization of the long run effect of the chemicals in the vegetables and how they are affecting us. We have been searching for a healthy and alternative farming method that will ensure a year round produce while not compromising on the portion of the produce. Organic farming is one such alternative where the plants are grown organically with no pesticides or fertilizers. The cons of farming organically were the unprecedented climatic changes, pest attacks and seasonal growth of crops. Organic farming was a solution for a healthy product but it was not practical in nature.
Hydroponics farming provided a practical and healthy solution for the age old problem of alternative farming methods. In hydroponics, plants are grown in a soil less method with the use of nutrient solution and coco peat base. The plants are grown inside a greenhouse facility to ensure they stay protected from unpredictable climatic changes and pest attacks. In some facilities factors like humidity and temperature are controlled automatically, providing a consistent eco system for all round the year growth. Hydroponic fruits and vegetables can be consumed fresh from the plant, as they are devoid of any artificial pesticides or fertilizers.
In a time where there is limitation for space, hydroponics provides farming solutions with a very limited space. A room or a terrace is enough for a perfect hydroponics farming setup.
Requirements to setup simple hydroponics,
External pump
PVC tubes
Waterproof bin
Styrofoam
Air pump
Some of the commonly grown vegetables using this method are hydroponic peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries etc.
The qualities of hydroponically grown vegetables are also better when compared with the ones available in the market. They taste better than market vegetables. They stay fresh on the plant and need no refrigeration when it can be plucked directly from the plant for consumption. In the long run hydroponics gardening helps in cutting down cost on grocery spending while saving a lot of water by reusing the water in farming.
Gardening is an art that everyone can practice in their free time. Working in a garden rewards you with fruits at the end of day. Having a backyard has become a luxury these days and gardening has become extinct. By adopting hydroponics gardening we will bring a balance to the life that had been long forgotten while having fresh vegetables that can be plucked and consumed directly like we used to do during our childhood. Inculcating new technology for sustaining our livelihood is something that humankind has been doing throughout their evolution and hydroponics is the future of farming that can be adopted by anyone. Many major farming industries have shifted to hydroponics methods of farming for a better and healthier yield.