Greenhouse Farming: A Sustainable Approach to Enhance Crop Productivity in India

Table of Contents

• What is Greenhouse Farming?
• What are the Advantages of Greenhouse Farming in India?
• What are the Different Types of Greenhouses?

• • Classification Based on Suitability and Cost
  • Classification Based on Structure
  • Classification Based on Glazing

• What are the Challenges and Solutions in Greenhouse Farming?
• Challenges to the Adoption of Greenhouse Farming
• Solutions to Address the Challenges
• What is the Difference between Greenhouse and Polyhouse Farming?
• What are the Subsidies for Greenhouse Farming in India?

What is Greenhouse Farming?

Greenhouse farming is a sustainable farming practice that cultivates crops in enclosed structures, providing a protected environment. The structure of a greenhouse is usually made of galvanized steel. It is covered on all sides with a shading net or agricultural plastic film. Greenhouse sizes in India generally range from 1 to 3 acres.

Greenhouse cultivation is valuable in areas with high rainfall or unfavourable weather. It uses a plastic film as a selective radiation filter. Thermal energy gets trapped within the greenhouse after solar radiation passes through the film. Crops are grown within these structures by providing favourable conditions, such as protection from pests and extreme weather.

What are the Advantages of Greenhouse Farming in India?

Greenhouse farming in India is gaining momentum as a sustainable and profitable agricultural practice, especially amid rising demand for high-quality, off-season produce. Here are some of the key benefits of greenhouse farming in India:

• Increased Crop Quality: Due to the controlled environment, crops in greenhouses get the right number of resources like water, sunlight, and nutrients. It results in higher-quality produce, which is an important aspect of cash crops and export-oriented agriculture.
• Higher Yield per Unit Area: Greenhouse cultivation is often characterized by higher productivity than traditional farming methods. Farmers can manage different environmental factors and regulate conditions for ideal crop growth. So, they can grow more per unit of land.
• Environmental Sustainability: Traditional farming methods are unreliable in the face of current climate change scenarios. In addition, India often experiences harsh temperatures, heavy rainfall, and droughts. Greenhouse farming is a sustainable farming method that provides a controlled environment, enabling cultivation year-round.
• Higher Profits: This farming method allows farmers to grow crops even during the off-season, when open-field cultivation is not possible. This leads to higher market prices and better profit margins, as demand is high while supply may be limited.
• Mitigating Production Risks: Greenhouse farming is conducted in enclosed spaces that protect crops from unreliable climatic conditions, such as extreme temperatures. Also, it prevents crop damage caused by pests, animals, and birds. So, there is less risk of crop losses and lower yields.
• Year-round Cultivation: This farming practice offers an independent space for growing crops. Thus, farmers can cultivate crops not only seasonally but year-round. High-quality crops are produced despite extreme summer heat or severe winter cold.

What are the Different Types of Greenhouses?

Different types of greenhouse structures are used to produce crops. All these structures have specific advantages and disadvantages. Farmers can choose a greenhouse structure based on factors such as space, crops, climatic conditions, and required investment. The following is the classification of Greenhouses:

Classification Based on Suitability and Cost

• Low-Cost/Low-Tech Greenhouse – A Low-cost greenhouse is a simple structure constructed with locally available materials (bamboo, timber, etc.). Ultraviolet (UV) film is used as a cladding material. There is no specific control device for regulating environmental parameters.
• Medium Tech Greenhouse - This type of Greenhouse is built using galvanized iron (G.I) pipes and additionally includes exhaust fans with thermostats to control the temperature. Evaporative cooling pads and misting arrangements are also made for humidity control.
• Hi-Tech Greenhouse – This type of Greenhouse is on the expensive side, but it comes with a fully automatic control system.

Classification Based on Structure

• Quonset type
• Curved roof type
• Gable roof type

Classification Based on Glazing

• Glass glazing
• Fibreglass reinforced plastic glazing
• Plain sheet
• Corrugated sheet
• Plastic film
• Ultraviolet-stabilized low-density polyethene.
• Silpaulin

What are the Challenges and Solutions in Greenhouse Farming?

Greenhouse farming is a great way to grow food all year, even in bad weather. But it’s not easy as you need advanced and accurate solutions for proper management. Below are some major challenges in Greenhouse farming along with their solutions.

Challenges in the Adoption of Greenhouse Farming

• It is known to be highly expensive, as it demands significant capital investment and high operating costs.
• If there is any pest or disease outbreak, the entire crop may be affected due to the closed space.
• Another common issue is clogged air filtration systems in greenhouses.
• Temperature swings can hinder healthy crop growth.

Solutions to Address the Challenges

• The government can implement favorable policy measures to expand the scale and scope of greenhouse subsidies. Research and development must be conducted to develop low-cost designs that reduce greenhouse construction costs.
• Disinfection must be a top priority for greenhouse farmers. Regular inspection and cleaning of components like water tanks and lines is required to ensure decontamination.
• Farmers need to ensure an effective ventilation system is in place. Thus, they must frequently check and replace air filters.
• Farmers can use a greenhouse whitewash or shade cloth if the greenhouse suffers from extreme heat. An efficient heating system is ideal for colder climates. Regular inspection must be carried out to maintain a suitable temperature within the greenhouse.

What’s the Difference between Greenhouse and Polyhouse Farming?

A polyhouse is a type of greenhouse with polyethene covering the sides and roof. On the other hand, greenhouses can use a variety of materials, such as plastic films, semirigid polymers, and glass, as covering materials. It has been observed that greenhouse farming is more expensive than polyhouse farming as greenhouses are permanent structures that are bigger than polyhouses.

What are the Subsidies for Greenhouse Farming in India?

• The Indian central government, with the assistance of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), offers a 50% credit-linked back-end subsidy on the total project cost for greenhouses and other horticulture infrastructure. This subsidy is 15% more for hilly areas. It has been limited to a ceiling of 2,500 sq. m per beneficiary and to ₹ 450 to ₹ 1,400 per sq. m.
• The Rajasthan government has launched the Greenhouse Scheme to subsidise the construction of greenhouses. For 4,000 square meters, a 50% grant (for general-category farmers) and a 70% grant (for small, marginal, SC, and ST farmers) have been allocated.
• The Telangana government offers a 75% subsidy to small and marginal farmers for establishing greenhouses and polyhouses. Also, during 2016-17, the subsidy was enhanced to 95% for SC/ST farmers.