NET-HOUSE TECHNOLOGY INCREASES THE PRODUCITIVTY OF VEGETABLES – PAU EXPERTS

LUDHIANA, JUNE 30:



Net-house and poly-house technologies are being widely used for vegetable production under protected conditions, especially for high value vegetables. PAU has developed net-house technology for vegetables such as brinjal, capsicum, tomato, cucumber, etc. The Director of Research, Dr S.S. Gosal said that the technology significantly increases the productivity of vegetables along with improvement in the quality. The net-house and poly-house environment helps vegetable production under relatively less pesticide use. This technology uses less pesticides by 20-59% in different vegetable crops, he said. Besides, it also increases the employment opportunity to the farm family. Farmers should take benefit of subsidy given for net-house installation and participate in vegetable cultivation to increase their income in the long run, emphasized Dr Gosal.



Dr M.S. Sidhu, Head, Department of Economics and Sociology, PAU, told that growing of crops under protected conditions takes care of the crop against temperature changes, hails, heavy rains, etc. As a result, higher input-use efficiency is achieved and super quality of the produce is obtained.The state government also provides subsidy on building of the net-houses, informed he.



While discussing about the practice of this technology at the farmers level, Dr. M.K.Sekhon, Economist (Marketing) said that several farmers in the state are cultivating vegetables such as tomato, cucumber, brinjal, capsicum, etc. under cover of poly-house or net-house. The net-house reduces the infestation by insect-pests and consequently leads to a reduction in the pesticide use. There is always an emphasis on pesticide free vegetables, especially those consumed fresh, she said. She disclosed that a survey was conducted including 50 net-house cultivators cultivating different vegetables. The produce obtained there from was better in quality and free from pesticides. She added that to compare the net-house technology with open-field cultivation of vegetables, the data were also collected from 50 open-field vegetable cultivators. The size of net-house varied from one kanal to one acre.



Varsity economist, Dr Manjeet Kaur observed that the technology also promotes better use of resources. More efficient use of resources helps in reducing the chemical use and thus the expenditure on plant protection chemicals by 59% in tomato and about 20% in other vegetables when compared to the vegetables grown in open fields. Dr kaur added that the expenditure on fertilizers and manures in case of net-house declined by about 10% in tomato and capsicum as compared to the open field cultivation.

Mr V.R. Singh informed that all the vegetables cultivated under the net-house gave higher gross as well as net returns as compared to the vegetables cultivated in the open fields. The maximum net returns were obtained from tomato followed by capsicum, chilli, etc., he said. The experts stressed that farmers should utilize the advice and technical knowledge of experts for producing vegetables under net-house to improve the quality and quantity of vegetables.


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