Until recently, when you zoomed in on Futurepump India on Google maps, all you saw was a barren rectangle of earth. The area on the outskirts of Rajkot, Gujarat State, in which the Futurepump factory has been built on is new to development – a blank canvas. Once the site was purchased and construction began, the team had a choice to make: focus on industrial expansion or build something that can grow.
Right at the core of Futurepump is a culture of building something that means more than just profit. So constructing a new factory was not going to be any different.
Surrounding the bespoke buildings on the two-acre plot is the beginnings of an oasis.
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to the elements of our site that make it more than just a factory, as well as some of our team members who support the growth of our site.
Tree planting
Over 800 trees have been planted around the perimeter of our site as well as alongside the roadway. These trees have been planted to provide habitat for wildlife and a healthy environment, as well as a boundary for the site.
On-site farm
A 2-acre plot is under cultivation as the Futurepump farm. Part of this area provides vegetables which are cooked in the canteen for staff lunches and snacks.
The farm is home to a cow called Yashoda and her calf Kanha, the milk that Yoshida gives is used on site and any spare is given to our staff to take home to their families. The cows and crops have a symbiotic relationship on the farm, as the manure that the cows produce goes onto the farm plot as fertiliser and excess crops are eaten by the cows.
Biodiversity
Our site is still under development, as construction continues on more facilities to allow us to bring more of our manufacturing in-house, but this has not stopped the wildlife from visiting already.
If you pause to look around for a moment, you can see dozens of birds, mongoose, and the Nilgai (largest Asian antelope) which roam the surrounding area. As the area is set to become more industrialised with other factories setting up, we hope to create an island for wildlife which will remain as the landscape around develops.
The lake
During the monsoon season a large lake fills in front of the factory. Although it is a non-permanent feature, full for only part of the year, it is another area of the site that contributes to the beauty of the site.
As we go forward, the goal is to plant suitable plants around the lake area which will thrive with the water but also withstand the long periods of drought. This process should begin to improve the soil quality of that area as well as encourage different species to visit the site.
The picture below shows the planting which has happened through 2022.
Meet some of our farm team
Managing the farm, planting of new trees and food crops is a full time job for some of our staff based here at the factory. Their roles are integral to keeping the production team fed, contributing to the culture of the factory, and ensuring that the site is both a welcoming and enjoyable place to work.
If you would like to learn more about our factory and the people who make your solar pumps, please do let us know via our social media channels – we’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. We look forward to sharing updates as all the plants at the factory site grow and our site develops into our oasis.