durable, about 5-6 times costlier, required qualified operator, proper maintenance, care andprecauti<strong>on</strong>s while operating.The low and medium-cost greenhouses have wide scope in producti<strong>on</strong> of domestic as well asexport-oriented vegetables. NEH regi<strong>on</strong> recorded highest rainfall in the world. The durati<strong>on</strong> of rainyseas<strong>on</strong> is also wide (April-October). During this period, growing of vegetables such as cabbage,cauliflower, broccoli, tomato, brinjal and French bean in open c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s is very difficult. Severeattacks of pest and diseases occur due to heavy rains. So, growing of vegetable crops in low costpolyhouse during this period is very profitable. C<strong>on</strong>trol of disease and pest in polyhouse is also easy.Other plant protecti<strong>on</strong> structures1.Plastic low tunnels: Plastic low tunnels are miniature form of greenhouses to protect the plantsfrom rains, winds, low temperature, frost and other vagaries of weather. The low tunnels are verysimple structures requiring very limited skills to maintain are easy to c<strong>on</strong>structs and offer multipleadvantages. For c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> of low tunnels, film of 100 micr<strong>on</strong> would be sufficient. The cost of a100-micr<strong>on</strong> thick film would be about Rs.10/m 2 .2.Net houses: Net houses are used for raising vegetable crops in high rainfall regi<strong>on</strong>s. Roof of thestructure is covered with suitable cladding material. Sides are made of wire mesh of different gauges.Such structures are useful for NEH regi<strong>on</strong>.Approximate cost estimateCost of producti<strong>on</strong> (for <strong>on</strong>e year) for 100 m 2 polyhouse cum rainshelterA) With hired labourCost of labour = Rs. 6400.00Cost of inputs = Rs. 1500.00Cost of structure = Rs. 3000.00Total =Rs. 10900.00B) With 50% hired + 50% family labourCost of labour = Rs. 3200.00Cost of inputs = Rs. 1500.00Cost of structure = Rs. 3000.00Total =Rs. 7700.00C) With family labour <strong>on</strong>lyCost of inputs = Rs. 1500.00Cost of structure = Rs. 3000.00Total =Rs. 4500.00Cropping sequenceCrop Durati<strong>on</strong> Income (Rs.)Tomato Feb- June 6000Spinch beat June-July 1500Tomato Aug.-Nov. 6000Cucumber Nov.-Feb. 6000Total 19500OrTomato Feb- June 6000Spinch beat June-July 1500Capsicum Aug.-Nov. 2250Cucumber Nov.-Feb. 6000Total 1575014E N V IS C entre, G B P IH E D
Gross income from cropping sequenceTomato + Palak + Tomato + Cucumber = Rs. 19500.00Tomato + Palak + Capsicum + Cucumber = Rs. 15750.00Annual net return from 100 m 2 polyhouse cum rainshelterNature of labour Gross income Net income B:C ratioWith hired labour 19,500 8,600 1.79:1With 50% hired + 50%own 19,500 11,800 2.53:1With family labour <strong>on</strong>ly 19,500 15,000 4.33:1[Source: Phookan and Saikia, 2003]C<strong>on</strong>straints in protected vegetable producti<strong>on</strong>In NEH regi<strong>on</strong> polyhouse culture is in infant stage and has not become popular as yet. Highcost and n<strong>on</strong>-availability of various comp<strong>on</strong>ents are the two major limiting factors in the adopti<strong>on</strong> ofpolyhouse technology for commercial cultivati<strong>on</strong>. Many of the polyhouse comp<strong>on</strong>ents like fibreglass,cooling pads, fans, etc., have to be imported at high costs including freight and custom duty.Greenhouse and other structures design for different agro-climatic of the regi<strong>on</strong> is not standardized.Lack of awareness am<strong>on</strong>g farmers pertaining to potentials of protected vegetable producti<strong>on</strong> and lackof major research programme <strong>on</strong> protected vegetable farming are other limiting factors.Prospects of protected vegetable producti<strong>on</strong> in NEH regi<strong>on</strong>There is a good potential to promote the technology in this regi<strong>on</strong> for cultivati<strong>on</strong> ofvegetables. The Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat has developed low cost technology forc<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> of green houses and rain shelters with the use of locally available material like bamboo,which could be availed.In temperate areas, vegetable growers can increase their income by raising early crops inprotected structures mainly in low-cost greenhouses. Raising of vegetable nursery in protectedstructures has many fold benefits such as easy management, early nursery, and protecti<strong>on</strong> from bioticand abiotic stresses. This technology is highly productive, amenable to automati<strong>on</strong>, c<strong>on</strong>serve waterand land. In 21 st century, protected vegetable producti<strong>on</strong> is likely to be comm<strong>on</strong> commercial practicenot <strong>on</strong>ly because of it potential but out of sheer necessity.REFERENCESAnn<strong>on</strong>ymous, 2002. Indian Council of Agricultural Research 2002. Agricultural Research Data Book,ICAR, 2004.Singh, Brahma, 1998. Vegetable producti<strong>on</strong> under protected c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s: Problems and Prospects.Indian Soc. Veg. Sci. Souvenir: Silver Jubilee, Nati<strong>on</strong>al Symposium Dec. 12-14, 1998,Varanasi, U.P. India pp. 90.Singh, Narender; Diwedi, S.K. and Paljor, Elli, 1999. Ladakh Mein Sabji<strong>on</strong> Kei Sanrakshit Kheti.Regi<strong>on</strong>al Research Laboratory of DRDO, Leh. Pub. By D.R.D.O., Leh. Pub. By D.R.D.O. 56A.P.O.Phookan, D.B. and Saikia, S., 2003. Vegetable producti<strong>on</strong> under naturally ventilated plastic housecum rain shelter. Plasticulture Inervanti<strong>on</strong> for Agriculture Development in North EasternRegi<strong>on</strong>, Edt. by K.K. Satapathy and Ashwani Kumar, pp. 127-141.Rai, N; Nath, A; Yadav, D.S. and Patel, K.K., 2004. Effect of polyhouse <strong>on</strong> shelf-life of bell peppergrown in Meghalaya. Nati<strong>on</strong>al Seminar <strong>on</strong> Diversificati<strong>on</strong> of Agriculture throughHorticultural Crops, held at IARI Regi<strong>on</strong>al Stati<strong>on</strong>, Karnal, from 21-23 rd February, pp. S.P.22.E N V IS B ulletin : H im alayan E cology 12(2), 2004 15
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