Biplove Singh
Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder, Aeroroots
Anybody will take immense pride in introducing Biplove Singh, who is leading agricultural innovation in Nepal, whilst taking the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to newer heights. As getting pesticide-free fresh vegetables in Kathmandu becomes more and more difficult by the day, his start-up is poised to make a significant breakthrough. Aeroroots, a hi-tech agricultural company, has introduced Aeroponic technology, which Singh explains is, “ a drum and pipe-based automated and soil-less system.” An aeroponic drum is a plant growing machine that supplies a nutrient solution directly to the roots of a plant in the form of fine mists. Users can install these drums on their rooftops, balconies, and lawns and grow vegetables, minus the tedious chores of tilling, weeding, watering and so on.
Owing to its convenient method, the company has sold 32 aeroponic drums in a little more than a year. Moreover, it has also developed an aeroponic farm with plans to make pesticide-free vegetables easily available in the market and at a reasonable price.
However, the government’s restriction on the import of soluble nutrients, an essential component for aeroponic farming, has posed a problem for the company. Singh says, “We continue to educate and make the government aware of our technology and its benefits for quite some time and they seem to be slightly positive.” Although it may take some time for them to obtain the government's buy-in, Singh remains hopeful that his company’s ground-breaking technology will make Nepal a pioneer in agricultural innovation and productivity. He only hopes that the government makes informed policy choices to create a nurturing environment for game-changing start-ups such as Aeroroots.