Sanket Mehta, is a Co-Founder of Nutrifresh Farm Tech India Pvt Ltd. established in the year 2019. He has completed MBA in technology management and finance and holds more than 15+ years of experience. Nutrifresh Farm Tech India Pvt. Ltd. raised funding of USD $5 million. Key Investors are Mr. Theodore Cleary (Archer Investments), Mr. Sandiip Bhammer (Managing Partner – Green Frontier Capital), Sky Kurtz (CEO & Cofounder of Pure Harvest UAE), Mr Mathew Cyriac (Florintree Advisors & ex MD of Blackstone India), Dr Soumitra Dutta (Dean Elect – Saïd Business School, University of Oxford), Mr Shaishav Dharia (Regional CEO, Lodha Group), Mr. Karan Goshar (Samarthya Investment Advisors LLP).
The farming industry has been, for the most part, a male-dominated field. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in women farmers and farm owners or leading operations with Agri-tech firms. This is partly due to the newfound popularity of sustainable, organic, and technology-driven farming practices brought to the forefront by large Hydroponic farms like Nutrifresh India; A Hydroponic farming company based out of Pune, India.
Women in India are now coming to the forefront and making their presence known in the agricultural sector. In the past, farming was seen as a man’s job. However, with the rise of new technologies like hydroponic farming, women can not just participate but take a lead in this industry.
The new age and large scale hydroponic farms like that of Nutrifresh are changing the landscape of Indian farming. Women have more opportunities than ever before to not only enter but, prosper in this industry.
Hydroponic farming as a new age farming tech
Traditional farming has been around for centuries and involves using soil to grow crops. However, with the advancement of technology, a new method of farming has emerged – hydroponic farming.
Hydroponic farming is a type of agriculture where plants are grown without the use of soil. Instead, they are grown in water that is enriched with nutrients. This method of farming has many benefits over traditional soil-based farming.
Since these farming techniques use mineral-rich water to grow plants in a soil-less medium. This type of agriculture has many benefits over traditional methods, as it requires less space and fewer resources and can be done indoors or in controlled environments. Additionally, hydroponics can produce higher yields in shorter periods.
Some of the benefits of hydroponic farming include:
– Increased yield: Hydroponically grown plants tend to have a higher yield than those grown in soil. This is because the roots of the plants have direct access to nutrient-rich water, which allows them to grow faster and healthier.
– Reduced water usage: Hydrop farming uses up to 95% less water than traditional soil-based farming. This water is recirculated and reused, so there is very little wastage.
– Pest and disease control: Hydroponically grown plants are less likely to be affected by pests and diseases. This is because they are not grown in soil, a breeding ground for pests and diseases.
Types of Technologies in Hydroponics
There are several types of hydroponic systems, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Ebb and flow, drip, aeroponic, and NFT (nutrient film technique) are the most common types.
These techniques were in use for a long time internationally but, the adoption in India was very marginal until the early 2016s. It was when the likes of Nutrifresh India took the big leap in setting up one of India’s largest hydroponic setups to bring these techniques to mainstream farming.
How Nutrifresh’s approach and commitment toward advanced farming and inclusion of women are changing the “Future of Food.”
For years, the women of India have been toiling away in the fields, often in harsh conditions and for little pay. But thanks to companies like Nutrifresh, that is starting to change. With farms that are temperature controlled to technologies and farming market strategies that require more than just physical labor in farms to grow high-quality vegetables each aspect is getting more gender neutral than ever before.
There are women that are leading the functions like Marketing, Operations for large Agri-tech firms. This has been made possible with the introduction of technology, structure, and sustainability to the farming industry.
Nutrifreshas India; A company that is committed to changing how food is grown in India. But they are also doing something else that is unique: “Empowering and enabling women from local communities that reside around the farms.
According to recent studies, only about 30% of all farmers in India are women. This statistic is even lower when it comes to smallholder farmers. But Nutrifresh is working to change that by training and supporting women farmers.
Not only are they helping to improve the quality of food grown in India, but they are also helping to empower women and improve their lives. This is truly changing the future of food in India.
“There are many reasons why women make great farmers. They are often more attuned to the natural rhythms of the earth and the seasons. They are also more likely to be patient and to take a holistic approach to their work” – Sanket Mehta Co-founder Nutrifresh India
Women are vital in ensuring that our food supply is safe, nurtured and handled with utmost care. These traits are naturally stronger with women and Nutrifresh has been able to create an eco-system that capitalizes on this strength. This is evident from the fact that over 90% of their plucking staff is women employed from local vicinities of the farms. This in turn helps enable the communities too.
With more women pursuing roles in agriculture, we can continue to progress toward closing the gender gap in this vital industry.
Conclusion
Overall, it is evident that using new technologies in farming, such as hydroponics, can positively impact yields and the quality of products. Additionally, the inclusion of women in leadership roles in agriculture positively affects the industry. These changes are helping to improve the quality of food grown in India and empower women farmers. Nutrifresh’s commitment to changing the way food is grown in India is truly changing the future of food in the country.