Know what is Protected Cultivation, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh told the benefits of this advanced technology

Presently, about 12.5 million tonnes of vegetables are being produced in the country, while keeping in mind the requirement of 300 grams per person per day, today the requirement is 135 million tonnes. The main reason for the low productivity of the crop in the country is the uneven temperature in the environment throughout the year, as the temperature in our country ranges from 05 to 48 degree Celsius. Due to such disparity in temperature, vegetable cultivation is not favourable throughout the year. However, protected farming is providing better opportunities for vegetable cultivation. Protected cultivation in arid regions can be used for growing off-season vegetables using hi-tech techniques in polyhouse and greenhouse structures. In this technique temperature and moisture can be controlled for the growth and better production of vegetables.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, Professor, Vegetable Division, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, says that the Bundelkhand region is a rainfed semi-arid region and the climate of this region is variable. The region is hot from April to July, rainy from July to October and very cold from November to February. Growing vegetables in open ground is difficult. But in protected farming, by making the climate favourable to the crop, high value crops and vegetables can be easily grown. One or two short duration crops can be planted between long duration crops, he said. In this way, by adopting multilayer technique, five to ten times more yield can be obtained than conventional technology.

Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse for Cultivation of High Value Vegetables 

Professor Rajesh Kumar Singh said that structures like naturally ventilated polyhouse, insect proof net, green shade net and mist room have given encouraging results for protected farming in Barani, Bundelkhand region. He informed that various vegetable crops can be easily grown in the protected agricultural structures for Bundelkhand region. Dr. Singh says that crops like seedless cucumber, tomato, melon, and coloured capsicum can be cultivated for 9 to 10 months in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. The naturally ventilated polyhouse, manually operated, gets ready at a moderate cost. It costs less than a hi-tech polyhouse and a little more than a shed. 

Cultivate vegetables in shade net at less cost than polyhouse 

Dr. Rajesh said that it is difficult for the farmers to cultivate vegetables in Budelkhand region or dry land area due to sun radiation and high temperature. Farmers can cultivate mint, cucumber, tomato, brinjal in shade net throughout the year, which is ready at low cost. He said that in arid regions like Bundelkhand, it is capable of withstanding the sun’s radiation and high temperature. In general, shade net-houses are of various shades of black, green and white. In this you can easily cultivate vegetables and ornamental flowers. Cucumber can be grown in Green Shed Net-house from last week of August to November and February to May and Cucumber to leafy and root vegetables from May to August.

Insect Proof Net-house Grow Healthy Fruits, Vegetables 

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh while giving information about the insect proof net house i.e. insect proof net house under Protected Cultivation said that it is used to reduce the use of pesticides in crop production. This is a great technique for growing healthy vegetables and healthy nursery plants. He said that brinjal, capsicum, cauliflower, tomato, okra, cucumber and papaya are more prone to insect or virus. Insect proof net-house is a better option for these vegetables and plants. Pests and other carrier pests can be effectively prevented by using insect proof net-houses. Insect proof net-house acts as a barrier between the crop and the open environment. To control most flying insects, insects can be controlled by using a 40% shade net house. The use of this structure of protected cultivars significantly reduces the cost of pest and disease management.

Walk In Tunnel is green House for small Farmers 

Dr. Rajesh informed that Walk in Tunnel is a temporary and low cost structure. The 200-micron thickness plastic is lined up on a half-inch GI pipe. Its height is about 2.0-2.5 meters and width is about 4 meters. Their beds are made of 2 meters. Walk in tunnel is suitable for cultivation of all types of crops, flowers and vegetables. It is less expensive to build such a structure. Hence it is generally adopted by the farmers. This walk in tunnel can easily run for 5 to 6 years. If designed as a GGI pipe frame, it can last up to 20 years. It usually consists of a 7 x 30 m or 7 x 36 m walk in the tunnel. Bees easily fly from one end to the other for pollination. Walk-in tunnel can be used for protection of vegetable cultivation and off-season Protected Cultivation. Mainly cucumber, capsicum, lettuce, peas and beans are easily grown in this. 

Also Read: Natural farming reduced the cost and increased profit for this farmer of Andhra Pradesh

Low tunnel is a better technology 

It is colder in North India in December and January. Germination of seeds is not possible due to low temperature, which delays sowing of vegetables. This causes a lot of loss to the farmers. 2mm anti-corrosion rod that is easily mounted or built on pieces of bamboo to withstand a low temperature barrier.

Nursery beds are first made in this technique. The pieces of bamboo or iron sticks are covered with transparent polythene forming a crescent shape 2-3 feet high. Plastic lozenges are very effective in the early stages of the crop, when the crop has less strength to withstand the pressure of low temperatures. At that time this nursery provides protection to the plant. It protects the plants from harsh climatic conditions like rain, wind, hail and snow etc. Mainly used for nursery development and also helps in early seed germination. Farmers can grow many summer vegetables including tomato, chilli, cucumber, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, watermelon, melon and cucumber during the summer season. This technique is very suitable and beneficial for the farmers living in the northern plains of India. 

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