Success Story: UP Farmer Turns Life Around with Hydroponics, Earns ₹3 Lakh in Just Two Months

New Delhi: In a world where many possess resources but fail to utilize them effectively, some individuals harness their potential to achieve extraordinary success. Dheeraj Verma, a farmer from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, is one such inspiring example. A television clip introducing hydroponics farming transformed his approach to agriculture, helping him generate substantial income in a remarkably short period.

From Traditional Farming to Hydroponics
For over 13 years, Dheeraj Verma, a BSc graduate, cultivated strawberries using conventional farming methods on five acres of land. This method was labor-intensive, costly, and challenged by weeds, requiring significant manpower and inputs such as mulching and drip irrigation. Just removing weeds from one acre alone cost around ₹50,000.

The turning point came when Dheeraj stumbled upon a TV program highlighting Israel’s expertise in hydroponics—a soil-less farming technique that maximizes yield even in dry climates with limited water. Inspired, he spent months studying videos and materials on hydroponics and later trained under Dhakad Brothers in Madhya Pradesh in 2021 to master this innovative technique.

Hydroponics Farming Methodology
Hydroponics relies on delivering essential nutrients to plants through water, providing all primary, secondary, and micronutrients required for optimal growth. These include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum, and chlorine. This method eliminates the challenges of traditional soil-based farming while enhancing productivity and cost efficiency.

Rapid Success and Earnings
After returning to his village, Meenapur in Barabanki, Dheeraj set up a 3,500 sq. ft. hydroponics farm. Using cocopeat, he planted 9,000 strawberry plants, investing around ₹12 lakh and one and a half months of work. Within just two months, he harvested 5 tons of strawberries, earning ₹3 lakh in sales.

Advice to Fellow Farmers
Dheeraj encourages other farmers to adopt hydroponics, emphasizing its simplicity and profitability. He says, “This is not rocket science. Even an uneducated farmer can earn excellent profits through hydroponics, just like I did.”