“Entrepreneurship in Agriculture: The Environmental Benefits of Hydroponics”

On January 21, 2025, a session on “Entrepreneurship in Agriculture: The Environmental Benefits of Hydroponics” program was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and the Institution’s Innovation Council in association with the Department of Mechanical Engineering from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The session was conducted by Dr. S. M. Rajkumar, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering at Francis Xavier Engineering College, Tirunelveli. A total of 42 students participated in the program, which was coordinated by Dr. K. Vinukumar. The event was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Lourdes Poobala Rayen, Director of the EDC.

The resource person explained that hydroponics, a soil-free farming method, offers significant environmental benefits, including water conservation (using up to 90% less water), reduced land use through vertical farming, a lower carbon footprint due to localized production, fewer chemicals and pesticides, minimized soil erosion, energy efficiency with renewable sources, reduced food waste through year-round production, and the preservation of biodiversity by minimizing land conversion.

Hydroponics offers opportunities in urban farming, sustainable food production, growing high-value crops, year-round harvests, tech integration, improving food security, designing efficient hydroponic systems, applying automation, IoT, and energy management and advancing research in agricultural methods. Students found the session extremely valuable and encouraging, providing positive feedback on how it motivated them to pursue their goals with renewed enthusiasm. The session concluded with a Q&A segment, where clear and helpful answers were provided to address the participants' questions.