17-year-old Shritha Shetty Puvvadi successfully cultivates three varieties of kale under controlled temperatures, exploring new possibilities for climate-controlled farming
HYDERABAD: In a city where summer temperatures often soar above 40°C, growing cold-climate vegetables such as kale may seem challenging. Yet, 17-year-old Shritha Shetty Puvvadi, a student at Oakridge International School, Gachibowli, is exploring how controlled-environment farming could make such crops viable in warmer regions.
Through an innovative agricultural experiment, Shritha set out to investigate whether vegetables typically associated with cooler climates could be grown successfully in Hyderabad. Her project focuses on the potential of controlled-temperature cultivation to expand crop choices and create alternative income opportunities for farmers.
Her interest in the subject developed while studying the challenges faced by Indian farmers, including fluctuating market prices, rising cultivation costs and limited returns. After learning about the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, which supports small businesses and entrepreneurs, she began exploring whether high-value crops could offer farmers additional avenues for income.
To conduct her experiment, Shritha used a temperature-controlled chamber at her family’s Snow Kingdom facility in Hyderabad. She tested three kale varieties — Winterbor, Red Russian and Vates — while gradually adjusting the temperature to identify conditions that would support healthy plant growth. All three varieties grew successfully under controlled conditions.
The findings provide an encouraging preliminary indication that cold-climate crops can be cultivated in Hyderabad when suitable environmental conditions are maintained. However, further research would be needed to assess commercial feasibility, production costs, water and energy requirements, and crop performance over multiple growing cycles.
Shritha’s initiative highlights how scientific curiosity and entrepreneurial thinking can come together to explore practical agricultural solutions. By investigating the link between controlled-environment farming and high-value crop production, she hopes to identify opportunities that could benefit farmers while bringing a wider range of fresh produce to local markets.
Her journey from a snow park to an experimental farm demonstrates how young innovators can explore new ideas at the intersection of agriculture, technology and business.
