Plan.
Modalities of Programme Implementation
Efforts of the programme would be to address three major areas, viz. technology development, adoption and dissemination. While the Research Institutions, ICAR Institutions, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Organizations in private sector having the expertise and infrastructure would be expected to be the key players in technology development and technology dissemination. The application of technology at farmers' fields will be through Nodal Implementing Agencies (NIA) in the States which are in a position to maintain a separate bank account for implementing the programme. At the national level, the overall monitoring of the scheme will be done by the DAC through the National Council for Precision Farming (NCPF). Various aspects of hi-tech horticulture and precision farming are discussed below :
HI-TECH HORTICULTURE
Technology Development and Refinement
Perspective of Hi-tech Horticulture and Precision Farming
technologies like microirrigation, fertigation, greenhouse cultivation, high-density planting etc. are being adopted by the farmers, still there is a scope for refining the technology to reduce the system cost, development of location-specific package of practices, innovative design etc. The industry involved in the manufacture of the system components are mainly concentrating on R & D work for improving the products in terms of quality and strength but it is limited to a small number of manufacturers. In many areas of hi- tech horticulture like micropropagation, green food production, biological control etc. adaptive research are needed for refinement of technology to make it farmer-friendly. Hence, the efforts would be to provide project based assistance to research organizations/ institutions having capacity to do the identified refinement, both in public as well as in private sectors for taking up time bound adaptive research on technology refinement under hi-tech horticulture. The PFDCs, those involved in the development of regionally differentiated technologies on plasticulture, will have to work for hi-tech horticulture to provide research support and precision farming.
Technology Adoption
It would be necessary to provide some assistance as incentives to farmers and others involved in hi-tech horticultural programmes for adopting the proven technologies such as :
Cultivation of micropropagated plants: A number of tissue culture units have been
set up in the country for rapid multiplication of disease-free plantings. The total annual capacity of micropropagated plants is of the order up to 270 million plants. Although, the technology has been standardized for a number of horticultural crops, its cultivation is yet to gain momentum due to high cost of planting material. A committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Assistant Director General (Hort.), ICAR, had gone into various aspects of tissue culture in the country and found because of high initial investments, farmers could not be able to avail the technology for cultivation of micropropagated plants and have recommended for Governmental support for its cultivation. Accordingly, it is proposed to provide assistance mainly for taking up demonstration on cultivation of micropropagated plants. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) would provide support in the form of supply of micropropagated planting material.
Hi-tech nursery: A large number of nurseries have come up in public as well as private
requirement of planting material by the end of Plan is estimated to be about 1,185 million fruit plants. Many of the nurseries, particularly in the public sector have not been functioning at optimum level due to old infrastructure, inadequate trained manpower and lack of financial resources resulting in considerable gap in the demand and availability of quality planting material. Hi-tech nurseries have been envisaged to plug this gap and ensure availability of quality planting material (Fig. 1, 2), for which mostly private sector would be mobilized. The hi-tech nurseries will have state-of-the-art for infrastructure with facilities for greenhouse, microirrigation, quality
testing, water source and equipments for phytosanitary system. The nursery will have the facilities to prepare rooting media for growing seedlings in pots or trays. Facilities for pulverizing, pasteurizing and mixing of root will also be available in such nurseries.
High-density planting: High-density planting is emerging as a useful intervention for
enhancing the productivity of horticultural crops per unit area (Fig. 3). It is being practised successfully in apple in Jammu and Kashmir, banana in Maharashtra and to some extent Fig. 1. Tissue-cultured plants of cashew in pots are ready for
transplanting.
Perspective of Hi-tech Horticulture and Precision Farming
mango in Uttar Pradesh. Technology has been developed for cashew. It is proposed to promote the technology during the X Plan as a package duly integrated with fertigation and other hi-tech interventions.
Fertigation : For intensive and economical crop production, the best solution for higher
productivity is fertigation, where both water and fertilizers are delivered to growing crops through microirrigation system. Fertigation provides N, P, K as well as the essential trace elements (Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, MO and Mn) directly to active root zone, thus minimising losses of expensive nutrients, which ultimately helps in improving productivity and quality of farm produce. Fertigation ensures higher and quality yield along with savings in the time and labour, which makes it economically profitable. Experiments have proved that the system economises use of fertilizer and water ranging from 40 to 60 per cent. This is being experienced by a few progressive farmers. Grapes, pomegranate and banana are still beyond the reach of poor farmers. Fertigation is ideally suited for hi-tech horticultural production systems, since it involves not only the efficient use of two most precious inputs, i.e. water and nutrients but also ensures their simultaneous availability to plants. Though microirrigation has found widespread use in plantation and horticultural crop production in India, fertigation is confined to a few high-value crops. Significant yield response coupled with enhanced quality of produce is possible through hi-tech productivity using fertigation.
The grape, pomegranate and banana growers in Maharashtra have adopted fertigation to some extent. Based on the studies on fertigation carried out on different horticultural crops, using several formulation of water-soluble fertilizers, the advantages of fertigation are summarized as follows:
! By and large at least 20-40 per cent savings in fertilizers could be made, if, fertigation is adopted with water-soluble fertilizers (WSF) due to better fertilizer-use efficiency.
! The water-soluble fertilizers are ideally suited for fertigation as they do not cause any clogging of the system due to high acidic urea and phosphate used in formulation of these fertilizers.
! Frequent and split application of fertilizers through fertigation near the root zone of crops help in reduced leaching and consequently better absorption of nutrients resulting in increased yield by 25-35 per cent besides improvement in the quality of the produce in almost all the crops.
! Keeping in view the NPK requirement of various horticultural crops and several formulations that are available for evaluating their efficacy, fertilizers in the NPK ratio of 1:1:1, 2:1:3 and 1:2:0 are found more desirable as these could be used for majority of the crops by supplementing either N or K wherever necessary through fertigation.
The studies indicate that fertigation holds ample scope for adoption especially in high-value horticultural crops for getting high productivity and quality produce. It would also be cost effective, if type, level, split applications and cost of water-soluble fertilizers are optimized for various crops/regions. Keeping in view the promising results of fertigation in improving crop productivity, it is proposed to encourage fertigation by providing assistance to farmers for adopting the system.
Hi-tech greenhouse: Optimum growth of plant is governed by the availability and use
of natural resources of land, water and sunlight. However, climatic variations often tend to have adverse effect on yield and production of crops. Efforts have, therefore, been on for harnessing these natural resources through artificial means for increasing crop productivity. One such technology is greenhouse cultivation.
Greenhouses are framed or inflated structures covered with plastic material or glass in which crops can be grown under partially controlled environment which is large enough to permit normal cultural operation manually. The size of greenhouse could vary from about 10 m2 to a
few hectares (Fig. 4). Greenhouses of larger size are usually constructed for export-oriented projects
particularly for floriculture. Greenhouse technology was well adapted in Europe and USA by the end of nineteenth century. Presently, China and Japan are the leading
Perspective of Hi-tech Horticulture and Precision Farming
countries. Other countries where greenhouse technology is being widely used are the Netherlands, Israel, Canada, Spain and Egypt besides some Arab countries.
Greenhouses are suitable for growing a variety of vegetables, fruits and flowers. Year-round cultivation even under extreme climatic conditions is possible through green- houses. In addition to temperature control, other benefits of greenhouse cultivation include protection from wind, soil warming and in some cases, protection against insect pests and diseases. In general, greenhouse cultivation could be considered as protected cultivation that enhances the maturity of crop, increases yield, improves the quality of produce and in some instances reduce the use of pesticides. The use of greenhouse technology also reduces the total time for preparation of seedlings and cuttings significantly. Greenhouse is also essential for plant propagation through tissue culture.
Considering the advantages of greenhouse, there is ample scope for increase in area under protected cultivation of high-value flowers and vegetables out of season, both in temperate and tropical climates. However, profitability in greenhouse cultivation will depend upon the choice of greenhouse structure, selection of crops and varieties and production technologies adopted. While the conventional greenhouses are simple structures, hi-tech greenhouses have facilities for controlling light intensity, temperature, and humidity with complete automation system.
The constraint in adoption of greenhouse is mainly the high investment requirement on equipments. Since capital cost is high due to high interest rate and consumers are less attuned to pay higher price for quality greenhouse, cultivation is viable only for one or two crops. However, with growing consciousness for quality, trend of reducing rate of interest on capital and increasing demand for different produce, the viability of this technology is improving. Since the technology has potential of increasing yield by 300 per cent coupled with quality, it needs to be encouraged. The endeavor would be to promote hi-tech greenhouse, which are fully equipped with system to regulate the growth conditions inside the greenhouse.
In-situ moisture conservation : Mulching is a practice of covering the soil surface
around plants to make conditions more conducive for plant growth. Use of dry leaves, straw, hay, stones etc. as mulching material has been prevalent for ages. However, introduction of plastic film as mulch increases the efficiency by improved moisture conservation, increased soil temperature and elimination of weed growth and hence, increase in crop yield. LDPE and LLDPE plastic films are commonly used for mulching. LLDPE black colour mulch films are more popular owing to the twin properties of possible down-gauging and better puncture resistance. Down-gauging leads to the
availability of thinner films at lower cost and the puncture resistance and opacity check the weed growth under the film. Due to moisture barrier properties of plastic film, it does not allow the soil moisture to escape. The water that evaporates from the soil surface under plastic film condenses on lower surface of the film and falls back as droplets thus preserving the soil moisture for several days prolonged irrigation and intervals. Moreover, weed growth is completely eliminated by preventing penetration of sunlight. Mulch is also used for soil solarization. It helps to maintain favourable soil temperature during daytime and retains it during night. Plastic mulch combined with microirrigation has proved to be highly beneficial in terms of yield increase, water saving and weed control in fruit crops like strawberry. This is proposed to be promoted through use of organic as well as inorganic mulching.
Hi-tech horticulture mechanisation: A variety of equipments are available which can
be used for precise operations in cultivation to enhance quality of produce through proper handling at harvesting. Hi-tech mechanization envisages the deployment of power driven equipments such as tractor mounted sprayers, aeroblast sprayers, posthole diggers, potato planters, potato diggers, self-propelled weeder, picking platforms, hydraulic pruning machines, power operated loppers, mulch layers etc.
Green food production: Adoption of intensive agricultural packages has resulted in
many liabilities such as increasing threats to food security, degradation of soil health and natural heritage of diversified ecosystem. Steep rise in population has increased the demand for food, fibre, fodder and fuel necessitating the intensive use of inorganic chemicals. Inefficient use of these inputs has resulted in soil and water pollution and declined productivity. There is an increasing effort world over to produce healthy food, which does not carry residual effects of harmful insecticides, pesticides and chemicals. The emphasis has shifted on production of 'green food', which is produced through adoption of practices in ecologically sustainable manner with the help of standards formulated for production. Under this, the farm is the unit for development requiring thorough documentation of soil characters, water quality, climatic conditions, availability of organics and maintenance of records. Without adequate organic matter content, soil gets poorer due to reduced nutrient and water-holding capacity. Deteriorated structures and the associated problems caused by air and water lead to soil erosion. Adopting organic farming could effectively arrest all these adverse impacts. Since the organic products are grown with commitment to respect biological and ecological processes, the foods, which are sold, must be legally certified that they are organically produce. Assistance is proposed to be provided for capacity building, creation of infrastructure
Perspective of Hi-tech Horticulture and Precision Farming
and adoption based on case-to-case and the farmers would be supported for technology adoption and certification.
Recycling of horticultural wastes and promotion of biofertilizer:Horticultural
produce leaves a substantial amount of waste material after harvesting. There is ample scope to convert this degradable waste into organic manure. Harnessing the earthworms as natural bioreactors for producing manure and its application to crops is vermiculture. The process of composting organic wastes through domesticated earthworms under controlled conditions is vermicomposting. Earthworms have tremendous ability to compost all biodegradable materials. Wastes subjected to earthworm consumption, decompose 2-5 times faster than in conventional composting. During composting the wastes are de-odourised, pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed and there is 40- 60 per cent reduction in volume of organic wastes. This technology depends on the feeding, excreting and breeding potentialities of the worms. Fast growing species of worms are voracious feeder and prolific breeder. They are also surface dwellers, organic matter feeders and surface casters, these worms feed on partially decomposed organic matter. Their digestive tracts act as grinding mills converting the wastes into granular aggregates, which are ejected as worm cast.
It is estimated that the earthworms feed material daily about 4-5 times their own weight. Thus one kg of worms decomposes approximately 4-5 kg of organic wastes in 24 hours. Vermiculture helps the maintenance of temperature, pH (ideal for microbial processes) and produces enzymes, which break complex bio-molecules into simple compounds, utilized by the microorganisms. Since earthworms have haemoglobin with high saturation, it helps in maintaining aerobic condition. Moreover, earthworms feed on wastes and produce vermicastings with immobilized microflora and enriched with balanced plant nutrients, vitamins, enzymes, antibiotics and plant growth hormones. Since horticultural crops respond well for conversion to organic manure, it is proposed to provide assistance to farmers for setting up units for waste utilisation. Besides such work, bacterial culture also has potential to degrade the waste and need to be promoted. This will help to increase the income of farmers by selling of compost, and increase in production on his own farm.
Excessive and indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers in commercial horticultural crops like banana, grape, mango, papaya, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, and ornamental crops has rendered the soil sick, polluted the groundwater and made it unsuitable for cultivation. Nitrate in groundwater is a major health concern in intensively cultivated areas. Production of chemical fertilizers is an energy-intensive process requiring a large
amount of energy resources. Moreover, import of fertilizers is draining the foreign exchange reserve to a great extent. Various field studies indicated that the yield potential of many soils are declining gradually and there is stagnation in crop productivity. Under these circumstances, use of cost effective and eco-friendly biofertilizers with suitable integration of organic manure will restore the soil health and keep the soil productive and sustainable. Biofertilizers offer an economically attractive and ecologically sound means of reducing external inputs and improving the quality and quantity of internal resources. Biofertilizers contains microorganisms, which are capable of mobilising nutritive element froms nonusable form to usable through biological processes. They are less expensive, eco-friendly and sustainable. The beneficial microbes in the soil, which are of great significance to horticultural situations are: (1) biological nitrogen fixers, (2) phosphate solubilisers and (3) the mycorrhizal fungi. Assistance for setting up farm waste utilisation units at selected locations in the country has been contemplabed.
Biological control: Biological control is use of organisms to regulate a pest or pathogen
to keep it below its economic threshold level. It assumes importance in sustainable agriculture and organic farming. There are a few problem areas like non-availability of natural enemies in sufficient numbers to utilise on a large scale. Secondly, almost all parasitoids and predators do not integrate with insecticides. There is a tremendous need to develop natural enemies tolerant to multi-pesticidal groups. Further, it is necessary to encourage commercial insectaries, which can supply quality natural enemies to farmers at a very short notice. This also calls for developing appropriate transportation technologies. The use of commercial nuclear polyhedral viruses (NPVs) is gaining importance all over the world. In India too, private industry is bringing out field compatible formulations. It has been found that using NPVs at an early stage, brings excellent control of Helicoverpa armigera on tomato. Further, NPV is compatible with
Trichogramma egg parasitoids, endosulfan and pheromone traps. These, in turn would
constitute an ideal IPM. One of the advantages of NPV is its specificity. However, NPV of Autographa californica Speyer is known to infect several lepidopterous pests. It is necessary, therefore, to test specificity using restriction endo-nuclease analysis of viral DNA.
Safe and sound technologies for Bio Intensive Pest Management (BIPM) in several crop pest situations like tomato fruit-borer and mealy bugs of various fruit crops are