Revolutionizing urban farming with Balcony Crops

In this episode of Food Frontiers, we talked with Mr. Adarsh Sridharan, the founder of Balcony Crops, a pioneer in urban farming using hydroponics. Founded in 2020, Balcony Crops allows for year-round, water-efficient farming suitable for homes, cafes, and hotels. It increases yields by up to 7% while conserving 90% more water compared to traditional methods.

Mr. Sridharan discussed his vision for sustainable urban agriculture, emphasizing how Balcony Crops transforms farming practices and enables people to cultivate fresh produce, even in small spaces. 

IBT: How is Balcony Crops promoting sustainable agriculture and encouraging the adoption of hydroponics, especially given that it’s a relatively new technology in India?

Mr. Adarsh: At Balcony Crops, farming extends beyond just rural areas. By taking advantage of unused urban spaces such as terraces and balconies, we empower individuals to cultivate their vegetables and greens. This practice helps lower the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances and removes the necessity for harmful pesticides and chemicals that are often used to maintain freshness. By growing your produce, you guarantee access to fresh, chemical-free food while contributing to a more sustainable urban lifestyle.

IBT: Could you share more about your services and how they help save water and address the challenges of urban farming?

Mr. Adarsh: At Balcony Crops, we provide affordable DIY kits starting at just ₹250, making it simple for anyone in India to cultivate their greens and vegetables. Our kits, including the compact Aeroponic tower, are ideal for small areas like balconies, needing only two square feet. They come with an automated timer and pump, hence there is no need to water the plants manually every day.

We also offer step-by-step video instructions and ongoing support to assist you from seedling to harvest. The nutrient solution is user-friendly, ensuring your plants receive the right nutrients without needing compost or fertilizers. Our kits require very little maintenance. With a weekly check to refill the water, you can enjoy fresh produce right from your balcony. We also have grown bags available for terrace gardening.

IBT: How is Balcony Crops leveraging IoT to enhance farm management, and how has it impacted the quality, yield, and efficiency of your customers?

Mr. Adarsh: When it comes to technology, we use IoT only on a macro-scale and not on a micro-scale. Macro means used for commercialized farming. This is where we use IoT to ensure precise nutrition is given to the plants. And when you do it on a commercial scale, we have polyhouses. Poly-housing people are also given a subsidy of 50% by the government. This is a very good initiative from the government side. In this way, farmers have assured returns in terms of production because whether it’s raining heavily, sudden rains, or heavy temperature, we are protected, and the crops are protected. We get an assured yield and then we use technology like sensors, temperature sensors, and humidity sensors to operate the ventilation fans, and the foggers based on the temperature.

All this is automated using IoT. When it comes to nutrition given to the plants, we have sensors like pH and TDS sensors, and EC sensors to ensure there is a precise level of nutrients present in the water at all times. The plants are not deprived of any kinds of nutrients. Nutrients are being supplied continuously so that the plants absorb them and grow very quickly. Hence, you’re able to achieve the proper yield in the given timeline.  It’s just like getting an assured return on investment using this technology. 

IBT: What’s your view on the current state of hydroponics and urban farming in India? How do you think the government can better support startups like yours?

Mr. Adarsh: The Government of India is providing impressive subsidies, such as 50% for poly houses and net houses, along with loans of up to ₹2 crores under the Agri Infra scheme, which includes a 3% interest subsidy. However, many farmers are not benefiting from these programs effectively. Improving access for farmers interested in hydroponics could make a significant difference.

In terms of urban farming, while larger initiatives receive substantial backing, smaller setups ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 square feet, which have great potential for local green production, are largely overlooked. It is crucial to offer subsidies for building greenhouses or polyhouses in urban settings. Additionally, providing affordable hydroponic kits for residents in metro areas could promote gardening on terraces and balconies. Offering a subsidy of ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 on a ₹3,000 hydroponic kit could encourage more individuals to grow their vegetables at home. Such focused support could transform urban farming in India.

IBT: How do you make hydroponics affordable and accessible for farmers while maintaining quality?

Mr. Adarsh: When we first began selling kits, we encountered challenges because many people considered them too pricey, with costs ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 for even a small setup like a 24-plant system. To tackle this issue, we introduced grow bag farming, a more affordable version of hydroponics, along with methods like NFT and Dutch bucket systems.

Balcony Crops became the pioneer in promoting budget-friendly terrace and balcony gardening using grow bags, making hydroponics accessible to urban dwellers. With kits available for as little as ₹250, users can cultivate greens such as methi, palak, or coriander. This straightforward approach involves watering plants in grow bags with a nutrient solution, providing an easy and approachable way to start small and expand later.

IBT: What’s your vision for Balcony Crops? Could you share your plans for expanding hydroponics and urban farming, both in India and internationally?

Mr. Adarsh: At Balcony Crops, we envision a future where urban farming flourishes in every metro city across India by 2030. Our goal is to set up branches in each metro area and develop an app that offers easy access to essential resources such as seeds, pest identification tools, farming techniques, and updates on innovative practices. We are dedicated to making urban farming both affordable and accessible for everyone. In terms of commercial farming, we plan to partner with industries like hotels and restaurants to make use of underutilized spaces, such as lawns, for cultivating fresh produce like mint, coriander, and tomatoes. This initiative will create a “farm-to-fork” experience, allowing customers to savor freshly harvested ingredients. Drawing inspiration from successful international models, such as rooftop farms in supermarkets in the US, we aim to introduce similar concepts in India, turning neglected spaces into profitable and eco-friendly farms that help reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainability.

---

Mr. Adarsh Sridharan is an innovative entrepreneur in urban farming and the founder of Balcony Crops, a startup that is revolutionizing agriculture in urban areas through hydroponics. With an engineering background and a strong commitment to sustainable practices, his transition from technology to agribusiness showcases his creative approach.

Under his guidance, Balcony Crops has enabled numerous individuals and businesses to embrace urban farming by installing state-of-the-art hydroponic systems in homes, cafes, and hotels. The company’s focus on water-efficient methods has transformed urban agriculture, promoting sustainable food production while greatly reducing resource consumption.