Prakruthi sets Aquaponics System for Coconut Nursery

Technoparktoday.com>> Prakruthi – the voluntary group of techies working towards Green Thoughts and Green Living have come forward to set up an Aquaponics unit for Kazhakootam Coconut Nursery. Earlier Prakruthi was successful in setting up many Hydroponic systems for different farms in Trivandrum and Kollam.

CISSA(Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action) – Sustainable Agriculture Director Dr C K Peethambaran(former Director of Research, Kerala Agricultural University) and Dr Reghunath handed over the newly built Aquaponics system to Smt Swarnavi(Asst Director, Kazhakootam Coconut Nursery).

“Technical guidance and Implementation was piloted by Team Prakruthi. For the entire unit, an approx amount of INR 10 K was spent. The systems make gardening more productive and economical. Anyone interested in a cost effective and healthy gardening at home should consider having an aquaponics system at home.” – says Mr Biju Sundaran(Volunteer, Prakruthi).

Aquaponic is said to be one of the emerging trends in farming sector. It makes use of the co existence of various systems. As the name suggests, aquaponic has a unit where in they grow fishes, and by a mechanical system, pumps water out of the pond through 4 inch PVC pipes. These pipes are designed to keep plants wherein the roots of the plants will be submerged in the water.

In practical, they make use of the nitrogen cycle happening inside fish ponds to grow vegetables. Existence of fishes normally increase the nitrogen content inside water. Along with its excretion and food waste, plants find it as a favourable medium to grow. Moreover when the water is circulated it will get oxygenated and nitrogen content will be extensively removed that makes fish to have a conducive medium to grow. Because of this reason Farmers can increase the number of fishes in the pond.