Meet the metal farmer
How often do you encounter a farmer sporting cargos and a t-shirt, spraying neem fertiliser, all the while headbanging to Iron Maiden? Take a trip to Pritham D’Souza’s farm in Kinya (Mangalore), and you are bound to encounter this very avatar of the ‘metal farmer.’ What makes this young agriculturist even more interesting is that he employs simplified hydroponics — an innovative method of farming that is characterised by the lack of soil. Read more
Farmers Impressed with Chinese Hydroponic Growing –Times Of India Bangalore 8th June 2010.
Indian farmers who recently visited China to see latest growing practices have returned happy knowing that Hydroponics/Soil-less cultivation is a norm in China amongst farmers there and are willing to try it in India. Read more
National Conference on Food and Water Security at Ahmedabad-26/27th Mar 2010
ISH India’s Chief Visionary, Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash, was specially invited as a speaker as well as Chairman of Session VI, by the conveners of the recently held “Conference on Food and Water Security at Ahmedabad-26/27th Mar 2010”. The conference was held at the prestigious Ahmedabad Management Association campus near IIM Ahmedabad. The programme was inaugurated by the Minister for Agriculture, Shri Dileepbhai Sanghani and the topics were covered in seven sessions of 2 days.
The seminar covered a wide range of topics in seven sessions over two full days:
1. Food Security in Global/Indian context.
2. Water for Food Security.
3. Food security and better management initiatives.
4. Food security through better seeds and agro-chemicals
5. Role of Bio-technology and fertilisers.
6. Enhanced Irrigation/water delivery systems.(CV chaired this session)
7. Alternative technologies for better food productivity (CV spoke here on “Commercial Hydroponics-Its Viability”).
ISH India’s topic was the one that won the highest applause and response from the participants judged by the number of people that thronged him after he finished his speech.
We are proud to say that in a short span of just thirteen months of operations in India, ISH has received national recognition.
It was just an idea, a seed, now its crossed the cotyledon stage. More people in India are becoming aware of this technology and its a great sign, for certain.
Gujarat Awareness Seminar
In helping our new Franchisee in Gujarat get on his feet, ISH India on the 28th Mar 2010, held a very valuable and excellent awareness seminar on Simplified Hydroponics at the Country Inns and Suites Hotel at Ahmedabad. More than 125 people from all over Gujarat attended the program. The program was conducted in three sessions of 2 hours each. The Speaker was the Chief Visionary, Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash himself. CV took the participants through the nuances of this technology in a manner that it could be understood by any layman. The progressive Gujarati participants were very active and they asked a lot of questions and were thoroughly convinced of the technology and its benefits. The participants belonged to various disciplines of life and industry. An announcement was made at the end of each session about the new Franchise in Gujarat being ready to commence operations in the second week of May 2010 with training being made available locally for all the people of Gujarat state. The participants were really happy that the technology and training would soon be made available within their state itself. ISH India is pleased to announce that more than 85 participants have expressed their willingness to participate in the training programme as soon as it is announced. The response was overwhelming and we are pleased no end. The Chief Visionary, Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash, is happy that with consistent effort the science of Hydroponics is now spreading fast in India. "With Gujarat taking on the gauntlet, I am sure more states will take up franchises in the near to long term". Maharashtra, West Bengal, TN, AP, Uttaranchal, UP, Himachal are also showing keen interest in taking up franchises very soon and we are certain that Simplified Hydroponics will spread to all states of India very soon" says CV.
Food and Water Security Conference, Ahmedabad
Our Chief Visionary, Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash, of the Pet Bharo Project , a project of the Institute of Simplified Hydroponics, Bangalore, has been invited amongst a halo of accomplished speakers from various industry bodies and corporations to speak at the " Food Security through Water Security " Conference to be held at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Ambavadi, Ahmedabad, to be held on 26th and 27th Mar 2010.
CV will speak on the topic " Commercial Hydroponics- Is it viable? "
It is indeed a great honour for us to have our Chief elected to speak at this seminar.
The topic is expected to create a new awareness amongst new and budding agri-business entrepreneurs.
Vegetable prices up 45%, admits Govt
Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) has inched up only marginally even though prices of essential goods have gone up exorbitantly on yearly basis, as reflected by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The difference between the indices presents a grossly misleading picture of the sharp price rise across the board in consumer goods and deflects the attention from the real plight of those millions who have to manage their expenditure on a fixed income. Read More
Flood effect: Rise in vegetable prices “The weather situation has caused heavy damage to many crops,” said Fazloor Rehman, a vegetable vendor at Russell Market.
The superior quality vegetables such as green chillies, brinjal and capsicum that used to come from Andhra Pradesh has been affected because of the floods. Mohammed, another vendor said: “Not only has the quality of the vegetables decreased, but the volume has also been impacted.”
Read More
Vegetable prices skyrocket in city
Did you realise that the food on your table just got costlier? Vegetables, especially the common o' garden ones you use every day — onion, garlic, tomato, potato, lady's finger, capsicum and even ridge gourd — are selling at abnormally high prices in the city. Let alone private shops, even the HOPCOMS outlets are selling them at increased prices owing to limited supplies. Read More
Price rise, slowdown do not deter festival spending
Prices may soar, the slowdown may dig in and jobs may be on the way out but none of these have managed to stop Bangaloreans from celebrating Dasara with exuberance.
The price of rice, sugar, fruits and flowers have soared to new heights. But it looks like the Bangaloreans’ resilience has kicked in: many tightened their belts on other days so that they can afford to celebrate Dasara uncompromisingly. Read More
Heavy rains lead to a spiralling rise in vegetable prices Vegetable prices across the region have spiralled in the recent days, owing to heavy rains across the region. Prices of common vegetables, such as peas and tomatoes have shot up in the region. The price of cauliflower has also increased while other vegetables remain at a stable price. Read More
After flood wave, it’s price wave
Floods have brought misery to consumers in the city. With the century’s worst floods washing away standing crops in north Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, prices have soared.
A kg of coriander, which used to cost Rs 15, has gone up to Rs 65 - a 333 per cent jump. Spinach, used for salads, has climbed from Rs 16 a kg to Rs 50 per kg (212.5 per cent). Fenugreek has seen a Rs 30 increase. It costs Rs 66 per kg (120 per cent jump). Read More
Where Cabbages Are Only For Kings This winter Indians have a diet plan they can finally stick to. As vegetable prices skyrocket, consumers are spending more but their grocery bags are much lighter. The latest numbers tell it all: potatoes were retailing at 102 per cent more in the second week of December than a year ago. On average, fruits and vegetables are 33 per cent more expensive than in December ’08. Even cereals cost 13 per cent more, and pulses 40 per cent more. Finally, with food inflation at 19 per cent, the government has stepped in to say rising prices are a “cause for concern”. Read More
From farm to mandi, vegetable prices go up by 400% Did you know that there is a 400% mark-up on vegetables in the last mile when it travels from the wholesale market — the mandi — to the vegetable vendor? If cauliflower, for instance, is being sold by dealers at Rs 5 a kg at the mandi, by the time it travels a few miles to the vendor its price is Rs 20-25 a kg. Read More
Why fruits and vegetables are expensive in Bangalore
Institute of Simplified Hydroponics, Bangalore has on 12th Feb 2010 signed a path breaking MOU with INCITE (www.inciteonline.org)
an organisation based out of Trivandrum and involved in imparting training in the areas of Advanced materials, Nanotechnology, Electronics, Medicine, Health care, Environment, Energy, Clinical Research, Biotechnology, Genomics and Proteomics and Information Technology.
The MOU allows INCITE, on a non exclusive basis, to bring together people from all walks of life to learn and implement Simplified Hydroponics for sustainability and livelihood.
The idea is to allow ISH to provide technology transfer and also supply Hydroponics/Soil-less Cultivation inputs to the people and also work with Banks to provide Microfinance loans in order to uplift the people of rural and backward areas and also in addition provide a platform for people who wish to become a part of the Urban Agri Revolution.
All training will be done by the Kerala Franchise of the Institute of Simplified Hydroponics, Bangalore, viz. ISH Kerala based in Calicut.
ISH will also work with INCITE for programmes involving our Semi-Commercial and Commercial Hydroponics Systems in India and rest of the world on a non exclusive basis.
We are pleased to work with a professional organisation like INCITE, headed by Dr Vidhya Ramaswamy who has a vision similar to ours See More Images
Pet Bharo Project completes one year in India
What started as a Dream has become a Reality with the 'Pet Bharo Project' completing successfully one whole year in India since its launch on 7th Nov 2008. ISH Chief Visionary, Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash, IN said "I walked in to uncharted territory last year, into the unknown, all I knew is that I deeply believed in my idea, the rest was the universe and the great powers above that created the perfect settings to make 'Soil-less Cultivation and Hydroponics' a living Reality. ISH successfully trained above 500 students during this year from across every corner of India. The gardens built by our students stand testimony to this reality. I am confident that given the persistence, perseverance and hard work from my magnificent team that shares my vision, in the face of every challenge, the technology will become a cog in the wheels of the second 'Green Revolution' in India. ISH wishes to thank just about everyone who have furthered our dream and vision in the onslaught of sometimes even violent opposition to the introduction of this technique into India. I am grateful to this idea that used me"
ISH Professor Gets Top Honour
The Institute of Simplified Hydroponics had its proudest moment on the 9th Nov 2009, when its Director R&D/Trg was honoured by the Dr Premnath Agricultural Science Foundation (PNASF) at the International Conference on Horticulture held at the Windsor Manor. Prof BS Prabhakar, a renowned ex-Senior Scientist at the IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Bangalore, was awarded a Silver Medal for his contribution of decades towards "Promotion of Vegetable Agronomy". The award was given by His Excellency, Mr Hans Raj Bharadwaj, The Governor of Karnataka at the inaugural function of the Horticultural Conference.
ISH Begins Awareness Programs for Gram Panchayats in Karnataka
The ISH in league with the EMPRI (Environment Management and Policy Research Institute started its Soil-less cultivation awareness programmes at Shimoga between the 6-9th Nov 2009 at Shimoga. The awareness training was conducted again by an alumnus of this Institute Cdr (retd) BB Khilari, a practitioner of Simplified Hydroponics and a die-hard proponent of the same. ISH is proud to have such a senior student as a permanent member of the Institute rendering yeoman service towards this technology.
Technology Hailed-Draws Immense Interest
ISH Soil-less Cultivation drew immense interest amongst Agricultural Scientists/Professors and Agricultural-Business leaders at the ICH (International Conference on Horticulture) Bangalore 9-12th Nov 2009. Many Governmental and Private individuals including corporates evinced great interest in being trained in the technique of Soil-less Cultivation/Hydroponics. ISH is Gung-Ho about the way the future of this technology is expected to go.
The "Pet Bharo Project" was recently showcased at the now famous Agri-Intex 2009 held at the CODISSIA Exhibition Centre, Coimbatore, between the 2nd Oct 2009 to the 5th Oct 2009. ISH managed to create a great impact on people with its advocacy and realtime exhibits of Soil-less Cultivation and Hydroponics. More than 99 percent of those who visited the stall were unaware of the possibilities of Soil-less cultivation and its attendant benefits, in a world, whose agricutural techniques are changing. Those who visited the ISH stall, were offered a One and Two day training course at a special discount. 1000's of people have expressed their willingness to attend and learn Soil-less cultivation methods either at Bangalore or at Coimbatore. The Chief Visionary of this project, Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash, IN, opines that seeing the response of people,ready to embrace Soil-less cultivation, it will only be a matter of time before many Indians take to this method of cultivation. 'CV' says Soil-less cultivation is a technology that has come to stay in most countries and Ïndians cannot be far behind. It is an imperative.
CV was also given a wild card opportunity to speak about his pet "Pet Bharo" project at the Agri-Intex 2009 conference and his talk on how common people could benefit from Simplified Hydroponics attracted wide attention and applause.
ISH is proud to announce the promotion of Ms Sangeeta Bojappa, presently Director-Programs to Chief Operations Officer (COO) wef 07th Oct 2009. ISH wishes to thank her for the yeoman services rendered by her in furthering the vision and mission of the "Institute of Simplified Hydroponics". Sangeeta joined the organisation in Nov 2008 and ever since has been persevering to promote Hydroponics in a manner that it reaches and touches the lives of every Indian in order to achieve Sustainability and Livelihood. ISH wishes to thank her for her highest devotion and integrity that she has lent towards this cause, in spite of all odds." We, at ISH are indeed happy to have her on board our ship and wish that she continues this effort to achieve the next Green Revolution." 'CV' and his team wish her, many more accolades to come, God Speed and Good Luck.
ISH Bangalore has been shortlisted for a Mega Project in Karnataka worth nearly 6 crores. ISH will set up nearly 20000 Sq.M of Hydroponic Vegetable and Herb gardens on the roof tops of 108 buildings. In addition ISH will supply 27 Fodder Machines each producing 2 Tonnes of Fodder per day.
ISH, Bangalore has signed in Aug 2009 and MOU with district 3190 of the Rotary International in Bangalore. ISH has offered to train Rotarians in Urban Simplified Roof Top Hydroponics.
ISH, Bangalore has also offered to train people in Kerala State in conjunction with the Kerala Kisan Congress. ISH will make a presentation in Kerala in mid Oct 2009 at Trivandrum.
ISH is in final stages of signing up franchises in many states of India. This will help spread the "Pet Bharo" project simultaneously around every part of India.
