Scientists of Central Institute of Women in Agriculture in Bhubaneswar, Odisha have developed a technology that will enable farmers to grow vegetables and other nutritious food both indoor and outdoor.

Called integrated vertical nutri-farming system it involves using a low-cost durable structure made of iron that can be put up in the backyard of the home or in the farm. It will greatly benefit marginal and poor farmers, especially women providing them livelihood and nutritious food throughout the year.

Sharing details about this technology, Arun Kumar Panda, CIWA’s Principal Scientist the system involves a three-layered fabricated iron structure which is 7 feet in height that can be set up on a 6×4 metre area.

On the top layer, vegetables can be cultivated while in the middle mushrooms can be grown and in the bottom poultry activity can be done. In case the farmers want to do vegetable farming, they can cultivate tubers on the top layer and green vegetables in the remaining two layers. Controlled-environment technology can be used for farming.

Using this technology, the farmer can grow nutrient-rich vegetables, mushrooms, eggs and meat. Apart from consuming these items, these can be sold for additional income.

With cultivable land becoming less because of increasing urbanisation, industrialisation and population, farmers need to grow food on small pieces of land. This technology will enable them to produce large quantities of nutritious and quality fresh food. Moreover, it does not depend skilled labour, favourable weather, high soil fertility or high usage of water.

The CIWA team of scientists who developed IVNFS included Panda, Tania Seth and Chaitrali Shashank Mhatre.