Hydroponics ROI Calculator for India
- 3 systems
- NFT, Dutch bucket, vertical
- 6 crops
- density, yield, cycles and price
- ₹2,800–4,500
- equipment capex per m²
- 35–40%
- opex as a share of revenue
Your farm
Area, system and crop. Figures update as you move them.
The polyhouse or building over it is costed separately.
- Payback
- 0.7 years
- Annual yield
- 20,000kg
| Equipment capex500 m² × ₹3,500 | ₹17,50,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual revenue20,000 kg × ₹180 | ₹36,00,000 |
| Annual opex35% of revenue | − ₹12,60,000 |
| Annual net profit | ₹23,40,000 |
Five lines from area to payback.
Equipment capex by system, yield from plant density and cycles, and opex as a share of revenue — the working defaults below, not a scheme norm.
- Crop defaults — plants per m², kg per plant per cycle, cycles a year and ₹/kg — are 2025–26 working averages; treat the output as a ±15% directional estimate.
- Excludes the polyhouse structure (use the polyhouse cost calculator), land and working capital.
- Opex covers nutrients, seedlings, electricity, labour and packaging.
- 01
Equipment capex
capex = area × capex/m² (NFT ₹3,500 · Dutch bucket ₹2,800 · vertical ₹4,500) - 02
Annual yield
yield (kg) = area × plants/m² × kg/plant/cycle × cycles/year - 03
Annual revenue
revenue = yield × ₹/kg for the crop - 04
Operating cost and profit
opex = revenue × system share (35% · 40% · 38%) · profit = revenue − opex - 05
Payback
payback (years) = capex ÷ annual profitB2B contracts (HORECA vs retail), seedling quality, operator skill and the electricity tariff move this more than the system choice does.
| Crop | Plants/m² | kg/plant/cycle | Cycles/yr | ₹/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce (NFT) | 25 | 0.2 | 8 | ₹180 |
| Tomato (Dutch Bucket) | 2.5 | 8 | 2 | ₹80 |
| Capsicum (Dutch Bucket) | 3 | 4.5 | 2 | ₹110 |
| Cucumber (Dutch Bucket) | 2.5 | 6 | 3 | ₹65 |
| Herbs / Microgreens | 60 | 0.05 | 12 | ₹600 |
| Strawberry (Vertical) | 12 | 0.7 | 1 | ₹350 |
Before you build on these numbers.
What the figures include, what they leave out, and how the scheme money actually moves.
Is hydroponic farming profitable in India?
Yes — well-run hydroponic farms in India achieve 35-50% net margins on premium crops like lettuce, herbs and exotic capsicum. Typical payback period is 2.5-4 years for a 500-1000 sqm commercial setup. Profitability depends on crop choice, urban market access and operator skill.
What is the cost of setting up hydroponics in India?
Capital cost ranges from ₹2,800/sqm (Dutch bucket) to ₹4,500/sqm (vertical NFT). A 500 sqm commercial NFT lettuce farm costs around ₹17.5 lakh excluding polyhouse structure. With NVPH cover and automation, expect ₹35-45 lakh total turnkey investment.
Which is the best hydroponic system?
NFT suits leafy greens (lettuce, basil, kale) — lowest water and nutrient use. Dutch bucket is best for fruiting crops (tomato, capsicum, cucumber). Vertical/A-frame maximizes yield per sqm for high-value crops like strawberry and microgreens but has higher capex.
Does hydroponics get government subsidy?
Yes — under MIDH and several state horticulture missions. The polyhouse structure gets 50% of the MIDH 2025 cost norm on up to 2,500 sqm, and hydroponics is an MIDH add-on at 50% of ₹350/sqm on up to 1,000 sqm (norms 15% higher in NE & Himalayan states). AgriMotion files MIDH applications end-to-end.
How accurate is this hydroponics ROI calculator?
Yield, cycle and price defaults reflect 2025-26 averages from operating Indian farms. Actual ROI depends on B2B contracts (HORECA vs retail), seed/seedling quality, operator skill and electricity tariff. Treat the output as a ±15% directional estimate.
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Turn this ROI into a crop and market plan.
Your inputs: NFT (Nutrient Film), Lettuce (NFT), 500 m² — capex ₹17,50,000, 20,000 kg a year, net profit ₹23,40,000 a year, payback 0.7 years. Mention them in the form, or send them on WhatsApp so the reply starts from them.
- An engineer calls backUsually the same working day — someone who can talk loads, layouts and schemes.
- An indicative estimateCapex range, scheme fit and next steps, before any paid DPR work.
- No obligationYour details are used only to reply to this enquiry.