Aquaponics: A boon for income generation in water deficient areas of India like Rajasthan

Abstract

Rajasthan is the largest state of India where both water quality and quantity are variable and the soil quality is also not very favorable in some areas for the fish culture. India being a tropical country with the second largest population in the world, it needs to ensure the nutritious diet for people. As a support for people, the country has started many programs and NMPS (National Mission for Protein Supplements) is one of these. This mission combines Hydroponics and Re-circulatory aquaculture system and in such a way that nutrient requirements for both the system is fulfilled, viz., the nutrient-rich fish waste from aquaculture unit acts as a nutrient media for the plant, at the same time the plants clear the water of obnoxious elements that may be toxic to fishes. Vegetable yield in hydroponic and aquaponic systems can be twice the yield from the conventional horticulture systems. Economics of hydroponic systems has been assessed by several authors and presently is estimated to be a mere 960 Rs/m2 for a grow bed of 34 m2 system in Asia. Wherever the production site is far away from the business site the aquaponics is a suitable solution to produce the vegetables and fish simultaneously on site.