“Eleven years ago, I was inspired to start farming after taking a few organic farming classes,” says Santhosh Kumar, a former IT professional from Thiruvananthapuram. But what began as a small hobby on his terrace soon grew into a lifelong passion.

Santhosh’s first step into farming was organic gardening. “The first thing I grew were chillies, and they turned out really well,” he recalls. However, he soon found that traditional farming methods weren’t enough to satisfy his growing curiosity.

After six months, he came across hydroponics — the practice of growing plants in water without soil. Intrigued by its potential, he decided to try it out.

However, it wasn’t as easy as it seemed. “There were barely any resources available. Most information was tailored to other countries, their climate, their soil,” Santhosh reflects.

The humid Kerala climate added to the difficulty. “Temperature control was a significant issue. It would often reach 38 degrees Celsius on my roof,” he shares.

In the search for solutions, Santhosh turned to the internet, where he found a supplier in Bengaluru. Using repurposed materials, he built his first hydroponic system. “It worked beautifully,” he says. That marked the beginning of his innovative farming journey.

As his knowledge grew, Santhosh decided to scale up. Three years ago, he bought a 3,000 sq ft plot just 10 minutes from his home.

But farming on a larger scale presented new challenges. “I lost around 400 plants when the nutrient solution overheated,” he recalls. This loss made him realise that real-time monitoring was essential for success.

Drawing on his IT background, Santhosh installed sensors to monitor key parameters like temperature, humidity, light intensity, and water temperature. “Once I got the data, I could analyse it and make necessary adjustments remotely,” he explains. This shift to automation saved him time and reduced errors.

Santhosh’s hydroponic systems use up to 80% less water than traditional farming. “We provide particular nutrient solutions to particular plants according to their needs. This also makes them grow faster and stronger,” he explains.

However, Santhosh acknowledges that not everyone adopts hydroponics due to the initial setup costs and the need for technical knowledge. “Many people are interested, but they lack the understanding required to run the systems effectively,” he admits.