: Grounded Mumbai Pilots Use Hydroponics to Grow Deliver Toxin-Free Veggies #IndiaNEWS #Mumbai What would you do if you’re cruising at 30,000 feet in the air daily and are suddenly grounded for months?

Grounded Mumbai Pilots Use Hydroponics to Grow Deliver Toxin-Free Veggies #IndiaNEWS #Mumbai
What would you do if you’re cruising at 30,000 feet in the air daily and are suddenly grounded for months? Well, these pilots started a hydroponics business on their terrace. A long-held ‘project’ in the mind of Mumbai-based domestic airline pilot Harsh Parekh, the Covid-19 lockdown paved the way to bring this idea into reality.
In 2017, Harsh witnessed a lady harvesting coriander leaves opposite the Kurla local train station in Mumbai.
“The coriander and other greens were being picked up along the railway lines of the station. The visuals lingered in my mind making me think about where our food comes from,??? says Harsh Parekh, a pilot.
When he learned about Hydroponics, the idea intrigued him. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. The nutrients are mainly introduced with the water, while the plant is rooted in coco peat, vermiculture or rock wool. Harsh then started researching on the topic and accessing all the details required to be such a farmer.
From pilot to farmer
Hydroponics are grown in pipes where water flows through them
But it was only during the Covid-19 lockdown around March when he shared the idea with his friend, also a captain with another private airline, Ishan Modi.
“I discussed the idea with my wife Garima, and after feeling confident, shared the same with Ishan. He along with his wife Soumya agreed to come on board,??? Harsh said.
The pilot said the duo worked for the entire month of April to plan and set up the startup. Living in Matunga, Harsh agreed to take the operational tasks under him, while Ishan from Borivali took up the responsibility of accounts and packaging.
“We did not have space and had to hunt one down. Luckily, a childhood friend in Chembur offered his terrace for setting up the farm,??? Harsh said.
The pilot added they purposefully chose to take up outdoor farming. With the foundation in place and around Rs 10 lakh invested, the startup FarmJet officially opened in May.
“There are many indoor hydroponic farms, but that requires air conditioning and LED lights. We wanted to cut down on our carbon footprint and grow plants in a natural environment,??? Harsh said, adding the farm got installed with A-structured UPVC pipes. The PVC pipes have lead in them, thus harmful to their health.
The duo decided to grow a range of vegetables like Pak Choi, Lettuce, Red Basil, Italian Basil, Kale, Iceberg, Baby Spinach and rocket arugula.
To provide nutrients for the plants, the water runs across the UPVC pipes for 10 minutes with nutrients like magnesium, calcium and potassium dissolved every two minutes.
Freshness is the key
Hydroponics facility set up at friends house at Chembur.