Dissatisfied with information concerning the high quality of greens grown on the Yamuna river banks, Shashank Dubey began to develop veggies on his terrace utilizing aquaponics. As we speak, he grows round 2,500 sorts of crops.
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 have been contaminated with heavy metallic content material.
Triggered by this information, he took issues into his personal fingers, however he quickly realised how area was a constraint for him.
In its place, the engineer determined to present aquaponics farming a strive. Whereas brainstorming, he had additionally gravitated in the 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 an extra 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.
Moreover 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 give up his job and develop greens in a industrial terrace setup.
Presently, he grows practically 2,500 sorts of crops, which embody 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)
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