Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
1.4.1.5
PROTECTED CULTIVATION
India has varied climatic conditions in different regions, so the greenhouse
and the supporting facilities are developed accordingly. About 40,000 ha
of area are now estimated to be under protected cultivation of horticul-
tural crops. Protectnet a comprehensive research program launched by
the ICAR nearly four years ago to address some of the problems is at its
fag end and the final results are awaited. Precision Farming Development
centers in 19 institutions are involved in the development of technologies
for protected cultivation and dissemination in different agroclimatic situ-
ations. However, nonavailability or inadequate power supply is a limiting
factor in popularization and propagation of greenhouses. In Leh structures
such as soil trenches and low cost polyhouses are quite useful. They are
being used on a limited scale for raising early vegetables and flowers
nursery production of early vegetable crops, extension of growing season,
vegetable production during frozen winters, protection of valuable germ-
plasm and cultivation of cucurbits, brinjal, capsicum and certain flowering
annuals.
1.4.2 IMPROVING INPUTS USE EFFICIENCY
1.4.2.1
IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT
Water is a critical input for production of crops, and its efficient use is
inevitable in context of achieving higher production from shrinking land
resources. It is estimated that only 38% of the area is irrigated and with
harnessing of all the resources of ground and surface water, with current
efficiency of irrigation, not more than 60% of area could be irrigated. Mi-
cro-irrigation, popularly known as drip irrigation, is an efficient means of
irrigation with high frequency application of water, where, water is de-
livered in and around root zone through a network of suitable emitting
devices. Micro-irrigation economizes on use of water by 40-60% added
with enhanced yield and quality of produce. For, short duration crops, sur-
face installation as per layout and design are adopted while for peren-
nial crops, subsurface installations are preferred. In India, microirrigation
was practiced using indigenous methods such as bamboo pipe, perforated
clay pipe, and pitchers but the modern system of drip irrigation is only
