Growers of the World Series
Vardan Agrotech - Alwar Rajasthan, India
Growing: Cucumbers, Jalapenos, Leafy Greens, Tomatoes and Peppers
System: 10 acres with naturally ventilated poly houses, net houses, and fan and pad greenhouses
If you start at Vardan Agrotech’s headquarters in New Delhi and drive 3.5 hours south-southwest through the oldest mountain range in India, Aravalli, you’ll arrive at a 10-acre farm. Here, you'll find ventilated poly houses, net houses, and fan and pad greenhouses.
At this location, Vardan Agrotech grows peppers, leafy greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers for the Delhi markets. Depending on the season you visit, you could walk out for a view of the arid landscape into the blistering heat of 45°C (115°F) or relatively cool 1.5°C (34°F), a formidable range of temperature for any farmer, especially in CEA.
Mr Madhav Gupta, the project head for Vardan Agrotech’s growing facility, leads the Vardan Agrotech growing team in integrating state-of-the-art automation controls within the greenhouse and precise data collection throughout the operation. In a region of India that borders the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, growing locally available food requires optimizing all water and nutrient use for the sustainability of their business margins and environment.
When Vardan Agrotech started their soilless (cocopeat) growing operations, they knew pH, Conductivity (EC), and moisture measurements were important, but they "found the cheaper instruments are not accurate and will not provide good reliable data,” requiring extra time to double check their crops and finding they had a lower-than-expected yield. They were spending valuable time verifying and double-checking their readings using multiple devices and still had low confidence in the instruments and the output. Once they brought Bluelab into their system they were able to deliver the quality and quantity their customer base demanded.
"Accurate and reliable data is very tough to come by. We sleep better knowing that we have the Bluelab instruments and can trust them.”
-Mr Madhav Gupta (featured above)
Vardan Agrotech has established a strong reputation as a reliable, local supplier of organic vegetables. Originally focusing on direct-to-consumer sales, the company has pivoted to prioritize business-to-business partnerships within the hotel, restaurant, and catering sector. Vardan Agrotech has also had exposure in the grocery market, their hydroponic growing system is perfect for meeting the quality and quantity requirements of these channels. Using Bluelab technology for precise nutrient and water management, Vardan Agrotech confidently expands its reach with the assurance of consistent, high-yield production.
Mr Gupta integrated Bluelab’s pH Pen, Conductivity Pen, Combo Meter, and Pulse Multimedia EC/MC Meter into Vardan Agrotech’s system for continuous monitoring of their crops. The Bluelab Combo Meter is used in their nutrient tanks, and the Bluelab pH and Conductivity Pens monitor runoff and recycled water.
“The main aspect of the Bluelab products is reliability. We trust the data and readings and can rest assured that these are accurate and reliable and repeatable.”
-Mr Madhav Gupta
Since switching to Bluelab, Mr Gupta’s team has spent less time checking reservoirs and runoff and more time maximizing the input of individual plants with their Bluelab Pulse Meter (pictured).
Vardan Agrotech, a leader in Indian agri-tech, brings fresh, sustainable, and locally grown produce to families through scalable B2B (business-to-business) distribution with grocery stores across New Delhi.
Their commitment goes beyond just providing healthy food. They share their expertise with other CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) farmers, promoting environmentally friendly practices that reduce water use and nutrient runoff.
This focus on sustainability positions Vardan Agrotech as a role model for the future of agriculture in India.
Browse the Bluelab products used by Vardan Agrotech: