Rooftop farming A Hadapsar resident shows how to grow vegetables through aquaponics

Lockdown has been traumatising to a few while Sameer Agarwal, a Hadapsar resident has successfully ushered the concept of Aquaponics on his rooftop. In the year 2016, Sameer read a book that explained the concept of ‘Aquaponics’; thus, putting his love for the fishes to use in growing a mini farm on his roof top.

Pointing out about the ancient farming, Sameer while talking to Pune Pulse, said, “In ancient time, people relied more on the riverbank farming. They displayed that the crops can be grown even without soil, just on the basis of water and the fish waste.”

Sameer has grown the crops which are 100 % pesticides free because adding any suppliment for the growth of the crops can harm fishes. The waste produced from the fishes in return turn into nitrates after nitrifying bacteria starts attacking the waste from the fishes. Until now, he has grown almost 45 types of veggies through Aquaponics way on his rooftop.

Sameer aims on helping people growing their own vegetables rather than relying on the vegetables from the commercial which are full of pesticides. Feeding the fish is the only source of activity involved in this process, rest of the work is done by the water and the waste.