Soilless Integrated Farming Project Hunar Skill Centre

1. Soilless Integrated Farming ProjectHunar Skill Centre Quintillion Business Solutions LLP New Delhi, India http://qbspl.com | info@qbspl.com Confidential. Intended for the recipient only. Location: Near Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda District, Punjab, India Initial amount: USD 500,000 ─ 1.5 m(INR 3.55 ─ 10.66 crores)

2. Note on Funding The funding process is divided in two parts — • An initial funding amount of between USD 500,000 and 1·5 million, (INR 3.55 to 10.66 crores) and its return to the fund provider, 2×, in 18 months. (USD-INR exchange rate as on 09-10-2019) • Generation of project funds, ≈ USD 14 m, by the promoters, which the funder is not connected with. Operationally the funder would enter into an agreement with a Singapore-based entity who will be assisting us in raising the project funds, and who would be responsible for returning the initial funding amount 2× to the funder. This would be by way of placing the funding amount in a bank managed programme with a nett return of 12.5%/month. (Returns as on 09-10-2019) Illustration of Procedure Using a base amount of 500,000 for calculation, with returns starting after 60 days. First Stage: Accumulated at the end of 10 months = 500,000. Start of process for raising the project amount. Second Stage, 18th month: Return of 500,000 + 500,000 to funder. Note: Since the funder is only concerned with the return of his original amount 2×, no details have been given regarding projected sales, returns, cash flow, etc. The project outline is being provided for them to know where the funds generated will be deployed.

3. Choice of Location We were looking to set up a project in an area where people could be economically empowered by utilising available land, and the quality of life improved.* Various locations were considered before settling on this area. This area is known as the cancer belt of Punjab owing to the presence of high levels of Arsenic in the soil as well as groundwater. It is also an area which grows cotton, a crop which needs a lot of water. Note: This district has over 5,500 widows of farmers who have committed suicide, which means 5,500 families requiring assistance to regain their lives, by having avenues of earning.

4. Choice of Process We chose soilless farming as the best way of utilising the land productively, without the produce getting affected by the Arsenic in the soil or water. Herbs, vegetables, fruits, and flowers will not be grown directly in the soil, but in controlled environment greenhouses, for pesticide and chemical fertilizer-free produce. Groundwater will be processed using the best technological methods available for purification. Pure water will also be generated by Atmospheric Water Generators (AWG’s). Another factor is that the land is used for a non-food crop (cotton). Horticulture and Floriculture will provide an additional source of income for farmers, or provide an alternative to growing cotton. (Second phase). The Arsenic left behind after purification, once accumulated, can be sold to industrial consumers. Strawberries grown on a soilless farm

5. Pesticide contamination in conventional farming Produce contaminated by pesticides. Results of a study conducted by the FDA, USA, of over 40,000 samples Strawberries Spinach Kale Nectarines Apples Grapes Peaches Cherries Pears Tomatoes Celery Potatoes This is where soilless farming scores over conventional farming by offering produce which is pesticide and chemical free.

6. Note on Cotton This operation will be started in Phase 2, after growing processes have been stabilised. This will be a R&D and Production facility. Cotton can be grown using soilless farming. “Otherwise, the crop is riddled with problems. It takes 225 days to grow, requires lots of water, its cost of cultivation is very high and yield low, and it faces lots of pest attacks,” comments M Rajamanikam, a cotton farmer in Tamil Nadu. In other words ideal for soilless farming. Present status: there is a shortage of legacy cotton seeds. There are only two suppliers in the country. Both are facing resource constraints. We would focus on three areas. • Growing — optimising production under soilless conditions. • Growing of legacy cotton seeds, and their supply to farmers. • Providing a R&D facility for preservation of legacy seeds, and development of varieties using legacy seeds.This will includes ginning, spinning, oil extraction, and weaving facilities.

7. Understanding Soilless Farming What makes soilless farming different from conventional farming, particularly controlled environment soilless farming Growing area: The growing area for a soilless farm usually has a multiplication factor of 4, or more. A one acre farm would give a growing area equivalent to 4 acres. The factor is 1 × 30 for strawberries (1 acre = 30 acres of growing area) Not affected by weather. Not affected by pests. (One of the reasons for economic distress in the chosen area) Not affected by seasons: Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, Flowers can be grown around the year. Growing times are faster in a controlled environment. Controlled environment makes it possible to grow items from any region. Productivity is higher than conventionally grown plants/crops. Initially requires a heavier capital investment, with much lower operational costs.

8. Growing AreaSolar Power, Harvested Water, Biomass to Power It is initially planned to start with a physical ground area of 18 acres. 6 acres will be kept for ancillary activities. 12 acres = 48 acres growing area for soilless aeroponic farming × 3 floors = 144 acres of growing area, or 140 acres with internal pathways. Twenty-five test planting areas of 250 sq ft for R&D = 0.16 acre. 12 acres of (floor) roof area will give 2 MW of power from roof-mounted solar panels with a battery backup. Excess power can be sold to the grid, since net metering is available in Punjab. Depending on the rainfall which varies between 270 mm to 390 mm annually, the quantity of collected water annually will vary from 12,960,000 litres to 18,720,000 litres. This is uncontaminated clean water. Filtered and purified it will be used for growing, in food processing, and for drinking. A part of the water will be used for fish farming. Post-harvest biomass will be available for conversion to methane (CH4) via gasification or anaerobic digestion. Microturbines are available for using methane directly. Anaerobic digesters give Methane, Manure, and Water.

9. Vertical Soilless Farm

10. Vertical Soilless Farm for Farmers and Educational Institutions This is an image of a hydroponic farm which can produce over 6.5 tons (≈ 6 tonnes) of vegetables and herbs in a year. (These are supplied commercially in a flatpack form by a Danish company). We would be developing our own design using aeroponics, which gives better productivity, using lesser water than hydroponics. (Image is for reference purposes only). 538 feet is approximately 0.0124 acres. Therefore farmer ’s even with very small holdings, can operate a farm of this size, to supplement their income. Size can be changed according to requirement. Our role would be to set up the farm for them, provide training, and assist them in marketing the produce. We would also, in consultation with educational institutions, set up farms for them so that students can have fresh, pesticide free vegetables.

11. Business Model (p. 1 of 4) The whole project is based on value addition, where whatever is produced will be processed and sold as end-products to consumers. There are two major bottlenecks for any kind of farming activity, in India, (or anywhere in the world): • the lack of capital for investment, and • finding a market for the produce once it is harvested. We would be: • generating the required capital required through our own sources, (Foundations/ Trusts who generate and provide funding for community-focussed projects). • The fresh produce will be sold through our own retail outlets, transported by reefers. We would also have our own onsite cold storage facilities to prevent spoilage. Processed food products would also be sold at the retail outlets, on all-India basis through select outlets, and exported. A balancing of fresh produce sold, and produce which is processed would ensure revenue from both activities. Initially the project will offer employment to the local population. We will work out plans of partnering with farmers, once growing processes and choice of produce has stabilised.

12. Business Model (p. 2 of 4) It is envisaged that a major part of the growing area will be devoted to floriculture, with the aim of extracting essential oils. Further value would be added by establishing our own perfumery. A certain amount of oils would go to the pharmaceutical industry. To illustrate: The yield of Roses grown in conventional fields is around 800-1000 kg/acre; The average price of rose petals is from Rs 200 to 600 per kg. (4,000 kg of roses = 1,600,000 rose blossoms = 1 kg of Rose Oil). Average selling price is Rs 5,00,000 to Rs 6,00,000 per kg. The price of perfumes can be 10 to 20 times the price of the essential oil. However there are more costlier floral essential oils than Rose Oil. All of them are capable of being grown via soilless farming methods. As far as we have been able to ascertain, there are no extraction units of the kind planned by us, especially with a perfumery in Punjab.

13. BusinessModel (p. 3 of 4) A certain amount of fresh produce would be sold in our own outlets, in towns within a radius of around 120 km. There are two cities outside that radius, Patiala — 143 km, pop. 3,29,248, and Ludhiana — 151 km, pop. 15,45,476. (These are 2011 census figures. There has been no significant growth in population). The rest would be processed into various products, and sold through our own outlets, selected retailers, and exported. The 6 acres that were kept aside would accommodate:

14. BusinessModel (p. 4 of 4) Fish Farming Fish farming does exist in Punjab. What we would be doing, is fish farming using water from harvested rainwater, uncontaminated by groundwater. Tanks with a depth of water of 1.5 m × 15 m × 10 m would need around 220,000 litres of water. The tanks will in climate controlled structures, with external temperature controls, control of water temperature, control of pH value, and other parameters. While Sole and Catfish (Singhara) are the ones usually consumed, we would like to try and breed Salmon, Trout, and Freshwater Prawns.

15. Hunar Skill Centre This initiative will be fully supported by the Farming Project. Guiding Thought The guiding thought behind this initiative, is the lack of opportunity for young people at the village level, to gain skills, the training for which is only available at urban centres, at a high cost. Our intent is to go beyond academics towards imparting and polishing of practical skills to open up wider career opportunities, and economic empowerment. The operational structure will be set up in such a way, that the trainees will be supported financially for their training. Demographics of chosen area in Punjab, a sub-district • 62,016 households • population of 3,15,930 (of which 1,72,905 are males and 1,43,025 are females) • Total literacy rate is 62.72%, (male literacy rate is 61.96% and female literacy rate is 49.36%). • There are 87 villages and 3 towns in the sub-district. The area is served by a fair amount of educational institutions, like schools, colleges, and three universities. While these provide a formal academic base, there still remains a need for skill training which they can’t provide.

16. Areas of Skill Development The starting point — English Conversation, Comprehension, and Diction This is one skill which cuts off a lot of young people from rural areas from opportunities. The aim is for them to be able to interact within and outside the country with a degree of fluency and confidence. To bolster up communication skills they would be taught how to create presentations, using various mediums. Public Speaking and Dramatics The next step would be to enable them to participate in public debates or address meetings and gatherings. An extension of public speaking, dramatics, an ability to communicate to a group, as a group, and develop self-confidence. Would be of help to anyone aspiring to be an actor, presenter, or wishing to have a public persona.

17. Areas of Skill Development — 2 Sound Recording and Film Making Taking the imparting of skills further, the Skills Centre would have its own fully equipped sound recording and video studios, as well as equipment for outdoor shooting. The objective is to nurture creative talent, by making the best equipment available, at no cost to the trainees. They would produce music albums, documentaries, and short films as a part of their training.

18. Areas of Skill Development — 3 Dress Designing Dress designing is a skill that would be required for creating costumes and dresses in-house for dramatic performances, and later for video and film shoots. It is a skill usable by anyone wishing to take up a career as a couturier. It is proposed that trainees will be exposed to various aspects of dress designing by interaction with professionals in the field of fashion and dress designing. They will also be able acquire skills in weaving, dyeing, and printing of textiles, at the small textile processing unit of the Farming Project

19. Other areas of Skill Development Basics of Business and Home Economics Since each of the areas of skill development would enable the trainees to launch independent careers, a knowledge of finance and economics would be an essential requirement, whether running a household, a farm, or a business. Soilless Farming, Food Processing, Essential Oils, Perfumes The skills centre would use the facilities of the Farm Project’s soilless horticultural and floricultural complex for practical hands-on skill development in this area. Since there will be a facility for the extraction of aromatic oils from flowers, trainees will be able to pick up this skill as well. There will also be a studio for development of perfumes. Hands-on experience for processing of the produce grown, to utilise it in all ways so that there is no wastage, would be at the food processing facility of the Farm.

20. Other areas of Skill Development — 2 Baking and Confectionery Baking and Confectionery is an allied area. Trainees would get skill training in the arts of creating confectionery and baking. Their skill level would enable them to take up jobs, or run a confectionery independently. The group of young people we are looking at, are those who would not be able to continue with further studies at the college and university level, mainly because of the economic conditions of their households, but still possess a degree of latent talent. The idea is to provide these youngsters, (particularly women), with the skills, tools and financial support, to enable them to either take up jobs in the areas of their choice, or to launch independent careers. While there will be a regular faculty, there would be professionals from each field who would be invited as guest faculty.

21. Promoted by HartejBaksh Singh Current interests include renewable energy, waste recycling, low-cost medicare, and agro-industrial projects. Familiarity with the process of using the alternative market to fund projects. Personal contacts with those generating funding for humanitarian projects. Over 50 years experience covering: • manufacturing of piezoelectric ceramics and electronic components; • setting standards (ISI 6391–1971); • marketing of services, management consultancy, executive recruitment and placement; • development and prototyping of SPTM for CRIS, Indian Railways; • marketing of specialised software for exploration and mining. • Interaction and negotiation with the Government for legislation for allowing foreign exploration companies to enter India, (firmed up in NMP 1993). • About 20 years in editing and design for major publishers in India and abroad, and organizations like World Bank, UNDP, ASI, AnSI, ICHR, etc. and Rekha Singh Current interests: community-oriented projects for economic empowerment, especially of women. With over 29 years experience covering quality control for pre-press and print publishing for major publishers in India and abroad and organizations like OUP, World Bank, UNDP, ASI, AnSI, ICHR, the Swiss Arts Council, etc. through her company Astricks, (closed operations in 2014 to explore new fields). Many of the authors and editors she interacted with were or had been at policy-making levels, giving her a familiarity with the policy-making process. with a range of domain experts, who have been identified, having the various skills which will be required for setting up, and operation of the project. End of Presentation