present status and prospects of protected cultivation in vegetable crops

2. Issues we are facing
 Shrinkage of Agricultural Land, Climate change and
Depleting ground water
 An IMF study says that for emerging market economics
a 10 C increase in temp would reduce agricultural
growth by 1.7% and a 100 mm reduction in rain would
reduce growth by 0.35%

3. Protected cultivation can be defined as a
cropping technique where in the micro climate
surrounding the plant body is controlled
partially/ fully as per the requirement of the
plant species grown during their period of
growth (Chandra, 2001).
Definition

4. Total Area under Protected Cultivation Worldwide
Year: 2012-21
(Saver et al, 2021)
 Around 115 countries in the world are growing
vegetable in greenhouse.
 According to World Greenhouse Vegetable
Statistics 2019, an estimated world greenhouse
vegetable area is 4,96,800 ha
(www.cuestaroble.com).
 The total area covered under protected cultivation
in our country is approx 30,000 hectares.

5. Leading states with major crops grown under
protected structures
Anonymous (2019)

6. Productivity view and Net Income
(NHM and HMNEH 2020-21)

7. Adoption of greenhouse technology through various Governmental Schemes
in India from the period 2005-06 to 2017-18
Singh et al 2018

8. Precision Farming Development Centre, NCPAH, MoA, GoI

9. The primary reasons for not
recommending it to other farmers are;
High
technical
knowledge
Labour
intensive
Marketing
problems
1421 different
protected structures
were installed in the
State. The area
under PCTs is
approx. 324.64 ha.
44 % of the PC
structures are
medium size, and 35
% of the structures
are large-sized.
The enquiry into the
reasons for the
dismantling of PC
structures revealed
that 48 % of the
dismantled the
structures due to
damage caused by
storm.
44 % of the owners
do not intend to
continue with the
protected
cultivation.
Only 32 % of the
PCTs structure
owners would
recommend PCT to
other farmers.

10. Important considerations for successful protected cultivation
Economics
Cost
Market
Ecology
Solar radiation
Temperature
Water
Relative
Humidity
CO2
Technology
Selection of
variety
Selection of
growing media
Fertigation
Drip irrigation
Canopy
management
Crop
protection
Physical
infrastructure
Roads
Energy
Engineering
facilities’
Labour

11. Advantages of Protected cultivation
 Year round production of vegetables.
 Multiple cropping on the same piece of land is possible.
 Better return to growers.
 Production of high quality and healthy seedlings of vegetables for
transplanting in open field supporting early crop, strong and resistant crop
stands.
 It makes vertical cultivation of vegetables possible using technologies like
hydroponics, aeroponics etc.
 Early raising of nurseries, off-season production of vegetables
 Management and control of insect-pests, diseases and weeds is easier.

13.  Potential of polyhouse technology for vegetable cultivation
in Punjab was done in the six districts having maximum
number of poly-houses.
 From each selected district 10 adopter and 10 non-adopters
were randomly selected thus making a total of 120
respondents.

14. Comparison of costs of cultivation and returns of major crops
grown under polyhouse and open field conditions

15.  A Development of tools, implements and machines for facilitating crop
operations.
 Development of intelligent control systems for micro climate
maintenance.
 Identification of potential rootstocks.
 Development of appropriate, efficient cladding materials.
 Identification and development of suitable varieties/hybrids of crops.
 Development of affordable agro-practices particularly with respect to
IPM, INM, IWM, and package of practice for organic farming.
 Development of post-harvest practices
Future thrusts
Research

16. Future thrusts
Development
 Human resource development through
training of trainers, field extension workers,
NGOs, village leaders and farmers.
 Large scale demonstration of proven
protected cultivation practices in potential
areas.
 Networking of farmers/Self Help Groups
(SHGs) for production, handling and
marketing of produce from protected
agriculture for domestic as well as export
markets.
Create awareness and enabling environment
for economic prosperity of stakeholders of
protected agriculture.
Assured availability of cladding materials,
other essential inputs-seeds, water soluble
fertilizers, pesticides etc. at the divisional
level.
Link the identified promotional schemes for
protected agriculture with already existing
State/National programmes.
Policy

17.  The growing population and rapid industrialization is gradually
decreasing the cultivated land.
 The demand of fresh vegetable under shrinking land area forces the
policy maker to think beyond open field cultivation.
 The protected cultivation technology is still in its preliminary stage in
India and concerted efforts are required from all concerned agencies
to bring it at par with the global standards.
 Globalization coupled with economic liberalization will help in
achieving the desired results.
 This technology is highly productive, amenable to automation,
conserve water and land.
 In 21st century, protected vegetable production is likely to be
common commercial practice not only because of it potential but out
of sheer necessity.
Conclusion