Engineer Friends Use AI to Grow Exotic Plants, Earn 50 lakh/Year with Hydroponics

“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” This couldn’t be more true for childhood friends Calvin and Farish, whose journey shows how powerful their bond really is. 

Starting a business is full of uncertainties, but Calvin Aranha and Farish Anfal have overcome those challenges. Their startup, Krop AI, uses Artificial Intelligence to run a hydroponic farm. They grow exotic crops like lettuce, basil, kale, and parsley.

From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: How It All Started

After completing their engineering degrees from the Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering, both went in different directions. Calvin worked in Bangalore, while Farish started a small seafood business. 

While operating a seafood business, Farish realized that farmers face many issues, such as rising input costs, unpredictable weather, and lower returns. These issues often lead them into debt. Farish and Calvin started discussing this, and soon, they decided to start hydroponics—a way to grow plants without soil. 

From Idea to Startup: Krop AI

In 2021, Calvin quit his corporate job, and together with Farish, they rented a small apartment in Udupi to start Krop AI. Using their savings, they first built a prototype system. After four months of hard work, they officially launched Krop AI.

These Hydroponic farms operate in a vertical setup, meaning plants grow without soil and much water. In Krop AI, the plants are grown in upward directions instead of spreading out over large fields.

How is AI helping in Hydroponic Farming?

Using AI, Calvin and Farish built a system that automates many tasks. Their custom 3D pipes control light, temperature, water, and humidity based on data inputs. Special lights work like sunlight, giving plants exactly the wavelength they need for efficient growth. This AI-enabled hydroponic system not only saves water but also cuts operational costs by 50%. 

Wondering if this AI-enabled Hydroponic system is profitable?

Compared to traditional farming methods, AI-enabled hydroponic farming methods not only save 95% of water. This, Farnish says, has the immense potential to make agriculture more sustainable and profitable for farmers. 

Krop AI is now building similar setups for other entrepreneurs and large retailers. These systems cost ₹5 lakh and can grow 500 lettuce plants at once. So far, Krop AI has built farms for about 10 agri-entrepreneurs and companies.

This Innovative approach caught the attention of the Karnataka government, and in 2023, Krop AI won a biotech grant through the state’s Elevate program. The startup is also incubated at AIc Nitte, a startup support centre.

Calvin and Farish’s journey from engineers to agricultural innovators is truly inspiring. It shows how technology and passion together can change traditional industries like farming. With their AI-driven hydroponic farms, they are not only growing exotic crops but also paving the way for more sustainable and profitable agriculture.

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