[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]PROTECTED OFF-SEASON VEGETABLE CULTIVATION PROJECT
(Joint Farm Management for Off-Season Vegetable Production in Hill Area through Adopting Eco-Friendly Crop Rotations and Practices, Phase- II)
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
Protected cultivation of vegetables offers distinct advantages of quality, productivity and favorable market price to the growers. Vegetable growers can substantially increase their income by protected cultivation of vegetables in off-season. Presently the vegetables produced during their normal season generally do not fetch good returns due to easy availability of these vegetable in the markets. Poly tunnels are also suitable and effective to raise off-season nursery and off-season vegetable cultivation due to their low initial cost. Insect proof net houses can be used for virus-free cultivation of vegetables mainly during the rainy season. These low cost structures are also suitable for growing pesticide-free green vegetables. Low cost poly tunnels can be used for high quality vegetable cultivation for long duration (6-10 months) mainly in peri-urban areas to fetch commensurate price of produces. Poly tunnels have proved extremely useful for growing vegetables under cold desert conditions in upper reaches of Himalayas.
For protected vegetable cultivation various kind of model like poly house, poly tunnels is used by farmers. Low cost poly house and poly tunnels can be made by every farmer. The project has distinct advantage of the marketing setup. This will enable the women and marginal farmers to sell their vegetable at the same point on cash payment basis. Only those crops are selected that have ample market demand in market. Protected vegetable cultivation is used as a tool to neutralized unfavourable conditions like extreme low temperatures, high range, unfavourable humidity, hail storm etc. In protected vegetable production all above risks are not involved and quality along with quantity, maximum production using less agriculture area is the chief objective of the protected vegetable cultivation. Such type of cultivation is better for those places in which climatic factors are not favorable for vegetable production where as natural resources like water, land and man power available. Decreasing land and increasing population may loss our productive land; protected vegetable cultivation may solve this problem.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
• Establishment of quality nurseries, poly houses, poly tunnels, etc. to produce superior quality seeds and seedlings, R&D, experiments, better quality planting materials, etc. at farmer’s field.
• Establishment of regular supply system of quality seeds/seedlings, manure, fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, improved agriculture implements, etc. to the farmers.
• Strengthen backward and forward linkages with the farmers for assured supply of external inputs and internal inputs for growing good quality of seed.
• Introduce and integrate the appropriate technologies to increase the vegetable productivity with marketable surplus in commercial, on-farm and off-farm production systems.
• Strengthen the existing market base and create new channels and linkage with similar farms so that a wider cooperative marketing platform is created for benefit to farmers.
• Increase in income level of beneficiaries and improved level of purchasing power of the beneficiaries.
• Technical workshop, repair training for local agricultural implements and agricultural support structures.
COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT
• Training of farmers to the appropriate technologies of farming, exposure tours, kisan melas, etc.
• Establishment of low cost poly houses, poly tunnels, walking tunnels for experiments, R&D, better quality planting materials, production of quality seeds, etc.
• Production of organic manure involving improved tools and technologies.
• Standardization of agro-techniques for raising mandate crops over extended periods under different structures and development of their package of practices for catching early markets.
• Periodical sowing for raising nursery on different growing media like soil and organic matter to supply seedling throughout the year.
• Production of hybrid seedling of vegetable.
• Testing of organic compost prepared by different methods and different substrates
• Demonstration of different crops cultivation through use of organic manure and compost.
• Demonstration and implementation of protected vegetable cultivation activities.
• Impact evaluation and popularization of project activities in nearby areas.
• Strengthen backward linkages with the farmers for assured supply of external inputs and internal inputs for growing good quality of seed.
• Provide farm gate market by developing forward linkages with externals agencies.
TARGET AREA AND TARGET GROUPS OF THE PROJECT
The targeted area of the project is limited to five villages of Chamba Block of District Tehri Garhwal. The target groups/beneficiaries are comprised the more vulnerable groups which constitute mainly of the schedule castes with the objective of assisting them to move out of poverty.
FUNDING AGENCY
The project is funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi.
COST OF THE PROJECT
The project was sanctioned by DST during the year 2008. Total cost of the project sanctioned by DST for two years was Rs. 14,65,000.00[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”780,781,782,783,784,785,786″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row]