Vansika Jhawar, student and hydroponic farmer

It was an attempt to deal with her own health issues that led Vansika Jhawar, a student of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, to develop a low-cost, vertical micro-farm for year-round, chemical-free food production, with minimal water and energy input. Added to that, it was designed for homes, remote areas, and disaster zones.

Kolkata-based 22-year-old Jhawar explains that her venture, Annapurna, tackles at one go multiple crises — shrinking farmland, water scarcity, and unreliable climate — to produce chemical-free food.

It all started when she was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), as it is now called, some years ago. Her doctor’s concern was whether it was triggered by the chemically treated food being consumed, she says. “Even though we assume the food we get is fresh, it often contains growth hormones, pesticides, and fertilizers. That made me realise that accessing truly fresh food is a big challenge today. I got the idea to grow food close to us and keep it as chemical-free as possible. I started exploring hydroponic farming,” she said.

Complex disorder

PCOD was recently renamed PMOS after multiple global medical organisations agreed that the name should reflect “the complex, long-term hormonal or endocrine disorder”, as opposed to being just about ‘cysts’ and ovaries, according to the Endocrine Society. The society was among more than 50 patient and professional organisations that jointly came up with the new name.

PMOS is diagnosed in countless women, and medical recommendations include a lifestyle change focused on a healthy diet — high-protein, low-carbohydrate foods and avoiding processed sugars.

Nutrient quality

Jhawar overcame challenges related to funding, space, and approvals to build her own prototype set-up for hydroponic farming, using waste material such as leftover pipes from construction sites. “My initial investment was almost zero. I only spent a little on hydroponic solutions and seeds,” she say.  

“Leafy greens are the easiest to grow and can be harvested within 2–3 weeks... so that’s my starting point. Later I may move to more profitable crops like saffron,” she says. “I got my first harvest tested in labs for nutrient quality. The results were good. In fact, research shows hydroponic produce can sometimes be even more nutrient-rich than traditional farming,” she adds.

Published on June 1, 2026