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"My love for food and its impact on health had me gravitate towards creating Seedle Farms (SF),” said architect-turned-entrepreneur Farah Daruwalla talking about her year-old plant based venture. The proprietary business "began as a personal passion project and has since become my full-time venture.” She initially set up a micro hydroponic farm in a spare space during the lockdown and was amazed by the benefits of the produce, especially on my skin and overall health. Positive feedback from friends and family to whom she distributed the produce egged Daruwalla on. 

Seedle’s salad greens, micro greens and herbs were cultivated using hydroponic farming at a 500 sq ft "farm” in busy Tardeo. Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrients solution rather than soil. Produce that is not suitable for hydroponic growth is grown using organic farming methods on a one-acre facility in Talegaon near Poona, stated the entrepreneur. SF offers, besides a variety of lettuce leaves, classic salad greens, micro-greens and herbs, all the classic vegetables and fruits, along with exotics such as Ponderosa lemons (a citrus hybrid of a pomelo and a citron), beefsteak and heirloom tomatoes, yellow watermelons, Thai chillies, candy cane beetroots, strawberries. "All our produce at Seedle Farms is Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved, 100% pesticide-free,” stated the founder.   

"Unfortunately there has been some technical problem with the machinery and we had to halt the Tardeo branch temporarily,” she explained. Talegaon is operational.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the benefits of hydroponic farming and what makes it different from regular farming? Hydroponic vegetables are more nutrient-dense than soil-grown vegetables because they are grown individually and their roots are not competing for resources with other plants. This allows them to absorb a significantly higher quantity of nutrients from the clean vitamin-rich water, she explained. 

The imported and local equipment used — pumps, meters, etc — results in a high consumption of power, she notes, adding that the business can be profitable after few years. Asked if she would recommend hydroponic farming, she said that "depends on their risk appetite, availability of space and expertise on the subject.”  

"It’s not viable in a small area… It is strenuous and requires full time attention and continuous research and development,” adding that this is a very nascent business in India. "It can be done in rural areas but would be very expensive.” She is not aware of other Parsis in this field.

"I firmly believe that the quality of food ingredients we consume plays a crucial role in shaping the overall quality of our lives… Our clients have testified to the numerous health benefits they have experienced from our produce, and this is my greatest joy,” she said. Prices are mentioned in their WhatsApp catalog. "We are priced about 20% to 30% more than non-organic, non-hydroponic products. 

"We are the only farm in Bombay that delivers within hours of harvest, ensuring that you always receive our products when they are at their height of freshness, flavor and nutrition,” Daruwalla states. "From temperature control to humidity, light, water, timing and method of harvest, to packaging and delivery, we have studied and perfected every aspect of the produce’s journey from seed up to your doorstep within hours of the harvest.” 

Her team of 15 comprises food scientists, technology experts, and nature enthusiasts. The company retails directly to customers via their website seedlefarms.com or their WhatsApp business account (85911 21684). "We have recently expanded to include orders from top restaurants in Bombay… Additionally, our boxes can be found at select supermarkets throughout the city.” To keep up with their daily farm operations, fun farm experiments, and recipes, the entrepreneur invites followers on their Instagram and Facebook accounts. 

Queried about the name of her business, Daruwalla states that the name Seedle is derived from the combination of the words seed and cradle. "This name encapsulates the brand’s mission to take an idea, dream or seed and cultivate it to reach its full potential,” she says.

The 26-year-old resident of Hughes Road and graduate of the NMIS Balwant Sheth School of Architecture says her father Burjis, an interior designer, encouraged her to go green. Fond of greenery and growing things, Farah stated that he was her inspiration to use the vacant premises they had in Tardeo to start on the hydroponic journey. Mother Jasmine assists Burjis, stated Farah, who has two siblings, Malcolm and Naira. Seedle Architecture and Design, her architectural practice, is on the back burner for now, as she is occupied with the green world. 

As a "devout follower” of Zoroastrianism, Daruwalla makes a conscious effort to align her actions and decisions with the principles and values of the religion, she notes. "This includes striving for integrity, honesty, fairness and excellence in my work, treating others with kindness and respect in my interactions, and using the teachings of Zoroastrianism as a guide to navigate the challenges of life.”