Expert Farmer Shares How He Built Profitable Hydroponic Farm From Scratch

With growing concerns around climate change, water scarcity, and declining soil health, traditional farming methods are becoming increasingly unreliable. To stay profitable, many farmers are exploring innovative techniques, such as hydroponics.

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution in a controlled environment. It allows crops to grow faster, use fewer resources, and yield higher returns. For aspiring and seasoned farmers alike, it offers a sustainable and profitable alternative.

This was the path taken by Pritpal Singh, a former corporate professional from Chandigarh. In 2016, he gave up his job and returned to farming, determined to break away from traditional monocropping. 

Today, he runs a successful commercial hydroponic farm and also supports others through his startup, ‘Farmcult’. His journey serves as a model for anyone looking to build a future-ready farm business.

1. Understand why hydroponics is a suitable solution

Traditional farming, especially in Punjab and Haryana, relies heavily on crops like wheat and paddy. Over time, this depletes soil fertility and invites disease. Hydroponics bypasses this issue by eliminating soil, drastically reducing the risk of pests and infections.

Crops are grown in a controlled setup where light, temperature, humidity, and nutrients can be precisely regulated. This makes farming independent of seasonal changes and significantly improves consistency and quality. Pritpal, for instance, now harvests up to five times more than what open-field farming would yield on the same land, every month.

2. Learn the basics and plan thoroughly

Starting a hydroponic farm is not just about installing equipment; it requires a clear understanding of how the system works. Key factors like water pH, nutrient levels, temperature, and lighting must be carefully controlled.

Pritpal faced major setbacks in the beginning. He hired a company from Mumbai to set up his system, but they lacked the technical expertise. The setup had poor-quality components, especially the LED grow lights, which were not suited for plant growth. As a result, he could not grow anything for four months.

Rather than giving up, he took charge of researching the system in detail and adjusting one parameter at a time until it worked. His experience shows why it is essential to learn the fundamentals or attend proper training before getting started. It can save both time and money in the long run.

3. Choose suitable crops to start with

Hydroponics is particularly effective for growing high-value and quick-yield crops. Start with leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and basil. These have short growing cycles, high market demand, and good profitability.

Once established, you can expand to crops like capsicums, cucumbers, and even exotic herbs. Pritpal now grows both leafy greens and vine crops on his farm, allowing him to diversify his income and meet local market needs.

4. Build the right infrastructure for your region

The setup you need depends largely on your climate and goals. Hydroponic farms can be built inside:

• Polyhouses (naturally ventilated or temperature-controlled)

• Greenhouses

• Indoor vertical farms

Pritpal uses a combination of all these across his two-and-a-half-acre farm, which allows him to grow different crops year-round. For example, in Chandigarh’s climate, he maintains a temperature of 20-26°C and humidity of 60-65%. These figures might vary in other regions like Kashmir or Tamil Nadu. Customise your infrastructure accordingly, as there is no one-size-fits-all model.

5. Be ready to invest, but think long-term

Hydroponics requires a one-time setup cost, which can feel steep initially. Pritpal invested Rs 60 lakh in his farm, including systems for vertical farming, polyhouses, irrigation, and solar power.

However, the returns are consistent and growing. With hydroponics, there is less waste, higher yield per square foot, and better quality produce that fetches premium prices. The farmer also installed 15 KW solar panels, which reduced his electricity bills by 80%, making the entire operation more cost-efficient in the long run.

6. Monitor and improve continuously

Precision is key in hydroponics. Even small missteps, like the wrong light wavelength or water temperature, can stunt plant growth. The farmer’s early crops failed due to incorrect LED grow lights. He adjusted parameters step by step and eventually achieved optimal performance.

Use quality equipment, regularly test your water and nutrients, and monitor plant health frequently. It is not a ‘set and forget’ system; you will need to stay engaged and constantly refine the process.

7. Think beyond just farming

Pritpal believes farming should be seen as a respectable and lucrative profession, much like medicine or law. His mission is to modernise the perception of farming in India by using technology, business thinking, and education to make agriculture a high-potential career choice.

He also stresses that Indian farmers must customise hydroponic methods based on local geography rather than copying Western systems blindly. Success lies in localisation and innovation.

Hydroponics is not a shortcut to success; it takes patience, knowledge, and experimentation. But once the system is running smoothly, it delivers consistent returns, better quality produce, and a much smaller environmental footprint.