Help grow Organic vegetables using just 5% water

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Growing 100% organic using just 1/20 of water which is used otherwise fully in traditional methods, poses 2 major challenges,

acute conservation of water including wastewater recycling and
creating an environment to keep away air borne& soil borne diseases

This location selected for the proof of concept (PoC), is asemi arid location (Amachavadi village in Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka),with an annual rainfall of just under 50mm since 2012, with most crops failing,including the coconut and areca nut trees. The climate change impact in the south interior Karnataka region ismoderate to severe, with most part of Chamarajanagar, Mysore and Mandyadistricts (without irrigation canals) under severe draught this year. Farmers are being pushed to the brink ofsuicides and looking for alternative jobs to survive.

India today imports almost 40% of the total commodity consumption by value, and severe draught has only pressed the government to import more in 2016/17. When the developed nations are moving towards urban smart farming and consumers encouraging local farm products rather than products imported from long distances, this PoC is a demonstration that can be duplicated across the nation, particularly where water stress is acute.

The total cost of the project to implementation is estimated to be Rs.31 lakhs, of which we have already invested 80% of the amount in building the necessary infrastructure like rain water harvesting pondand the polyhouse structure. This 80% also includes the necessary material purchases like foggers, drip system, motor pumpsets and other electricals. What remains are few torn polyfilm to be purchased, labour costs, soil media costsand the necessary aquaponic piping and container costs which will approximately add up to Rs.6 lakhs (see the cost estimation breakup below).

We are addressing the following issues in this proof of concept

ISSUE	RESOLUTION
Excessive water usage	Water recycling and reduced water consumption
Harmful pesticides and insecticides	Zero pesticide/insecticide farming method*
Harmful chemical fertilizers	100% organic fertilizers formed naturally by fish and good bacteria
Reduced freshness & soggy when bought in the supermarket	Its live and fresh until it is cut. Using a newly developed organic root sealing method to keep the greens fresh and alive
Soil nutrient depletion when farmed continuously	Will never use the natural soil. Instead we use soil less media which are completely natural. Hence soil nutrient depletion is zero !
Refrigeration	No refrigeration required. Fresh greens if not used will last upto 10 days without becoming soggy! thus saving refrigeration costs.
Slow growth, nutrient deficiency & adulterated	Upto 25% faster growth due to optimized protected environment, natural and organic additives hence very nutritious, and minimal human interference, as most processes are automated, hence achieve zero adulteration
Trust & reliability	An open invitation to visit our farm to have a first hand look (with a prior appointment) & high degree of automation to achieve close to 100% reliability
Future growth and increased productivity	This project is only a PoC, interested individuals can meet us and actively build and run new units at your choice of place. We will support you fully.
Local farmers	Local farmers are not able to make money because of several issues including climate change, middlemen, severe market rate fluctuation. This PoC demonstrates the ability to eliminate all the above issues, as we plan to convert this into a commercial cooperative movement through Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs). Read my blog - https://beingshameless2.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/hi-tech-horticulture-is-this-the-future-of-food-security/

So, what we are aiming here is live fresh leafy vegetables which are 100% organic, zero pesticide and nutritious which can be grown anywhere - on a terrace or in the field or on an empty plot in your neighborhood ! thus minimizing the cost of transport and increasing the local economy (by creating the farm produce locally, you are encouraging the local grower to produce food and the money will circulate within the local area).

7 reasons to buy and encourage local farmers market

Buying locally from your local farmer allows you to support local agriculture. This means that the food you are eating comes from nearby, and does not require us to waste lots of energy and petroleum to ship the food halfway around the world. You are eating food in your own environment, where it has perfectly-created nutrients for your specific climate and region. You are also supporting the environment by reducing the usage of fossil fuels.
Cheaper Organic Fruits & Veggies - The advantage at a farmers market is that you can actually talk to the farmer, learn about their methods, and then decide for yourself and in most cases they will allow you to come and visit their farm.
Supporting Your Local Economy & Farmers - You are supporting human beings and the local economy, not massive agribusiness GMO food conglomerates. Not only will your money be staying in your area, but you will happily please the farmer that worked to grow that food.
Safer Foods - Food from your local farmers market is generally safer. Remember the recent outbreaks of E. coli in bagged spinach? These things happen mostly in large industrial settings, where business-men work to mass produce food, preserve it and bag it in mass amounts.
As light as fresh - The food from your local farmers market is, quite frankly, fresher. Because it was grown locally. This is virtually impossible in a big supermarket.
Better Taste - There is no doubt that locally-grown foods just simply taste better as they are 100% organic in our case. You will never be able to eat spinach from the grocery store again!
It’s Healthy! - There’s just no way around it. When we grow food in a organic way, the plant immune system is at its best, no diseases catch up the plant, thus local grown veggies are great for your health.

I heartily welcome you to visit our farm in Chamarajanagar, Karnataka and enjoy a free stay with all 3 meals included for every investor who has funded at least Rs 5000 or more along with another surprise promissory note which will mature to 150% of your donated amount at the end of 7 years through a carbon negative green initiative in the farm under an agroforestey model.

You can follow me on twitter - @mohanurs

A new whatsapp group is created to promote this PoC - +91 9880506770, group name is “PoC by mohanurs”

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14th January 2017

My apologies for the delay in bringing out the first whitepaper on this project. I had to consult and evaluate with several experts before I could roll out this whitepaper. Attached in this update for your reading is a whitepaper on the project I am working on. Your feedback and questions are always welcome. Your contribution to this project is very much appreciated and I heartfully thank every one of you who have supported my project in kind and spirit. Click here to download the pdf document.

21st December 2016

Read my blog - https://beingshameless2.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/hi-tech-horticulture-is-this-the-future-of-food-security/

16th December 2016

I could have smartly imported the expertise at a cost and sell the products to the elite, but its a dream to make it in india and make it affordable, and enable the ruralites to switch back to organic way of growing food and lead a healthy living. Touches me deep when I look back and see that the road I walked to our farm as a kid is still the same, and no govt funds has brought in any change what so ever. Decided I live there and the least I can do, help transform the village for the better, in a small way whatever I can.