Tonico Cafe in Kakkanad, Kochi, gets fresh basil, kale and cilantro from a garden on its own walls. The cafe, popular for its pastas and soups, turned to hydroponic farming a few months ago, in order to produce its own supplies. “We need a lot of basil for our signature pesto sauce. Good quality basil is difficult to procure in the State and we decided to grow our own,” says Tony Jose, founder and CEO of Tonico. Tony now gets a steady supply of basil from his vertical garden.
Hydroponics, the increasingly popular soilless farming technique, has been finding takers across the country. The system, which requires very little space and water, has caught on among those who live in urban apartments, especially during the lockdown months.
