Aqua tech: Fish & chips

It’s getting tougher to cultivate crops. A shortage of natural resources such as water and able land  means we are fast running out of spaces to feed the world’s second largest population. Scientists, then, are seeking new self-sustaining methods to grow crops and Aquaponics — a hybrid technology than can successfully grow fish and vegetables simultaneously in a closed loop system — is one such promising new path. It has been a hobby so far but this variant of aquaculture is slowly gaining attention as a serious sustainable farming practice with the potential of holding out against several environmental issues such as climate change, unavailability of land, potable water and urban growth.

“The technology combines aquaculture — the raising of fish in a controlled system and hydroponics — the farming of plants in a soil-free environment,” says B. Madhusoodana Kurup, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies. “The technology is complicated. It needs the right combination of fish and plant species and then there is the high investment on lesser returns. It will be profitable only if the unit size is high,” Mr Kurup adds. But he believes necessity will one day bite.

“Only two-to three per cent of the total water resources is available for aquaculture. With space and water becoming main issues, the technology would prove handy say, five years from now.” The Kerala Fisheries department too has realised its growing importance and is now offering farmers a subsidy of 'two lakh to set up farms using recirculating aquaculture system, a variant of aquaponics. “Initially, 30 farms using recirculating aquaculture systems will be set up. The process has started and upto 50 units are being set up in every district of the state,” says Santosh Kumar S., assistant director, (Projects), Directorate of Fisheries.

The system offers a win-win situation for states that need fish and farms. Nearly 800 genetically-improved farmed Tilapia or the Niloticus variety are put inside each of the units. And with 90 per cent survival rate, 720 adult fish could be harvested. Feed residue, fish fecal and other accruals in the tank will then be extracted for use as fertilizer for vegetables. It’s even possible to remotely control the farms. Nikhil Jacob Kurian, a 21-year old student at the Sheffield University in UK has come with a system that can maintain the delicate environment within an aquaponics system — using an Internet link. Kurian’s tech could one day automate cultivation at a promising source of food. And that day may be closer than you think.