Aquaponics – Technologies for Tomorrow – Investment Opportunities & Development Ideas

Aquaponics – Technologies for Tomorrow Investment Opportunities & Development Ideas

Aquaponics (AP) is the combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soil-less plant culture). It is the cultivation of fish and vegetables/plants together in a constructed, re-circulating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish wastes to plant nutrients. In aquaponic systems, the nutrient-rich water that results from raising fish provides a source of natural fertilizer for the growing plants. As the plants consume the nutrients, they help to purify the water that the fish live in. This creates a sustainable ecosystem where both plants and fish can thrive-

• Using less water and space,

• Producing no waste water and pollutants compared to conventional methods, while

• Using semi-skilled and local labour for production,

• Resulting in creation of sustainable livelihoods     

To get a better perspective on Aquaponic systems and how the concept could to be used for the benefit of rural as well as urban community, IAIP had an opportunity to host Dr. Subhrankar Mukherjee PhD, MBA, at the speaker event in Kolkata on March 3rd.

[slideshow]

Dr. Mukherjee began by highlighting the advantages of an Aquaponic system over traditional systems. The basic conclusion that could be drawn from his various citations seemed to hinge on the fact that the system could be made into a completely organic process and result in a far greater yield per hectare than in the traditional approach, with minimal initial investment in technology. He explained the different types of aquaponic systems that could be built as well as various case studies from around the globe on the development of aquaponic systems in various countries. He concluded the event by explaining how aquaponic systems could be set up domestically at our very own balconies or roof tops.

About the speaker:                                                                                                                                                                    

Dr. Subhrankar Mukherjee is (a) the current President and Managing Trustee of Sankalpa Trust; (b) functions as the Director of SRC-N; (c) President of ARTS and a Founding Member of cMFS. He has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. He has more than twenty years of experience in administrative, senior management and consultancy positions in industry, academic and non-profit organizations.

Contribution by: Abhishek Shah, CFA, IAIP Volunteer