Professor in Odisha's Ravenshaw grows flowers without soil

With scarcity of land in urban areas not allowing abundant and healthy production of crops, fresh farming methods like hydroponics and aeroponics are getting increasingly popular these days. 

An Assistant Professor of Botany department in Ravenshaw University. Khirod Kumar Sahu has found a beautiful way to fulfil his overpowering passion for agriculture and that too despite lack of sufficient land for the same. 

After converting a small portion of Green House located at Botany department into a beautiful garden, Khirod has adopted hydroponic farming to grow flower plants like marigold, gerbera and petunia even without soil. 

It may be surprising but one can find such flowering plants are grown in water only. Many foreign countries have adopted hydroponic farming and become successful in reaping benefits more than they can harvest through traditional farming methods. Besides, hydroponic farming is helpful for those who want to grow pesticide-free farming at their own place and stay healthy.

When asked, assistant professor Khirod says, “This garden is part of the hydroponic project of Science and Technology department of Odisha government. These plants are grown in water but provided all the proteins which soil carries through water.”

Dayanidhi Sahu, a research scholar in the subject, says “The concept of soilless farming is not new. It has already caught the global attention. However, I feel proud to see how flower plants are grown without soil in Odisha. Not only flower plants, one can grow vegetables and fruits whatever he wants. Though this sort of farming is expensive, it can be profitable too if adopted in proper way.”