SASMIRA
AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS
&
THEIR USAGE
Mrs. Manisha A. Hira
Scientist C
SASMIRA, Mumbai
SASMIRA
Indian Agricultural scenario
• Increasing population.
• Industrialisation & Urbanisation
• The population dependent on agriculture has increased from 270
million to 670 million
• Per capita availability of cultivable land has dropped from 0.36
hectare to 0.13 hectare
• The contribution of agriculture to India’s GDP has reduced from 39%
to 22% during 1974 – 2004.
Pertinent Problems
• Population is expected to touch 1.33 billion in the year 2020 and
the demand for food grain is going to be around 280 million
tonnes
• Diminishing arable area and water.
• Global warming
SASMIRA
FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURAL
ACTIVITIES
• Sunlight – direct and indirect
• Water
• Climatic Conditions including wind, hail,
humidity
• External factors like birds, insects, weeds
• Post Harvest handling of produce – storage
and packaging
• In India, presently Agricultural Activities are
carried out under Natural Conditions of
Temperature and Humidity
SASMIRA
CONSEQUENCES OF ABSENCE OF
CONTROL FACTORS
• Yield percentage is unsatisfactory
• Quality of produce is marred
• Damages to the produce
• Regional limitation on cultivation
• Seasonal limitation on cultivation
THE ABOVE FACTORS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED
USING AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS
SASMIRA
WHAT IS AGROTEXTILE
• Special textiles that are manufactured
for agricultural applications
• These textile structures are used as
controlling environment for plants /
animals in applications like
– Agriculture
– Horticulture
– Animal husbandry
SASMIRA
Agrotextile products
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sunscreen net
Wind shield nets
Bird nets
Crop covers
Harvesting nets
Insect nets
Mulch mat
Anti-hailstone nets
• Packing sacks and
wrappers
• Fishing nets
• Cut grass collection
bags
• Underlay fabrics
• Udder support nets
SASMIRA
Protective Agrotextiles
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Shade nets
Bird protection nets
Anti – hail nets
Wind breaking nets
Harvesting nets
Insect nets
Ground covers
Crop covers
SASMIRA
Product Details
• Bird Protection Net
–
–
–
–
Polyolefin monofilament / Tape yarns
Warp knitted
2 – 3 cm mesh size
40 – 80 g/sq.m.
• Shading net
–
–
–
–
Polyethylene Tape yarns
Warp knitted, mesh size as per the required shading %
60 – 90 g/sq.m.
Woven structures of lighter weight are also used
• Windshield fabrics
– Polypropylene monofilament / Tape yarns
– Warp knitted, mesh size as per the required wind
blocking %, 40 – 90 g/sq.m.
– Woven structures of lighter weight are also used
SASMIRA
Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
• Plant nets
– Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape
yarns
– Warp knitted
– Strips of nets with large opening, 30 -40 g/sq.m
• Harvesting nets
– Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape
yarns
– Warp knitted
– Flat nets of square or triangular construction, of mesh
size 8 – 12 mm
– 40 – 90 g/sq.m
– Woven structures of lighter weight are also used
SASMIRA
Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
• Ground Covers
– Polypropylene, spunbonded
– 100 g/sq.m and above
– Woven/Nonwoven biodegradable structures
of jute and coir are also used
Packing Material
– Polyethylene Tape yarn
– Warp knitted, 50 – 60 g/sq.m
– Woven jute sacks are also used
SASMIRA
Fibres used in Agrotextile
products
• Nylon
• Polyester
• Polyethylene
• Polypropylene
• Jute
• Wool
SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
PRODUCT
APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
CROP
PRODUCE
FLORICUL
- TURE
HORTICUL
- TURE
 SHADING



 BIRD
PROTECTION



 WIND SHIELDS


 ANI-HAIL


POST
HARVESTING
ANIMAL
HUSBAN
- DARY
FISHING
KNITTED NETS
 HARVESTING

 FISHING

 MILCHING

 PACKAGING
 SUPPORT NETS





SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
Contd…
PRODUCT
APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
CROP
PRODUCE
FLORICUL TURE
HORTICULTURE


POST
HARVESTING
ANIMAL
HUSBANDARY
NONWOVEN FABRICS

MULCHMAT

CATTLE SHED
UNDERLAY

PROTECTIVE
CLOTHING







WOVEN FABRICS

PACKING SACKS

SUNCREENS




PROTECTIVE
CLOTHING













PLASTIC SHEETS

GROUND
COVERS

GREENHOUSE
FILMS
FISHING
SASMIRA
Red Mulch for Tomato
SASMIRA
Strawberry crop on Mulched Beds
SASMIRA
Solarization
SASMIRA
Lining of ponds
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Low Tunnels
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Off-season Vegetable
Cultivation in Greenhouses
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HORTI-POTS
MARKET SCENARIO
SASMIRA
Global Consumption of Agro-tech
Products in 000 tonnes
1,381
1,958
1,615
2000
2005
2010
Identified and forecast by DRA report ,World Market forecast, 2010.
Indian market is expected to increase from
Rs. 510 crores in 2007 to Rs. 742 crores by 2012
SASMIRA
Region-wise Global Consumption of Agrotextiles
S.No.
Regions
Volume of consumption
CAGR%
2005
2010
2000-2005
2005-2010
1
North America
150
152
-0.2
0.3
2
USA
135
137
-0.2
0.3
3
South America
Brazil
117
44
142
53
2.3
2.5
4.0
4.0
5
Western Europe
250
261
0.3
0.9
10
Eastern Europe
72
93
4.7
5.1
11
Middle East
51
63
2.6
4.1
12
Central Asia
14
16
2.6
3.7
13
South Asia
India
195
154
269
215
5.9
6.2
6.7
6.9
15
North East Asia
China
504
389
630
509
4.8
6.2
4.6
5.5
18
South East Asia
158
205
4.7
5.4
19
Africa
93
110
2.3
3.5
20
Oceania
13
16
3.1
4.1
Identified and forecast by DRA report, World Market forecast, 2010.
Summary of the market-sizing for Agrotech
2007 -08
Product
SASMIRA
2012-13
Production
Import
Export
Domestic
consumption
Domestic
consumption
Quantity
5,000 MT
-
2,200 MT
2,800 MT
3,747 MT
Value
Rs 45.5 crore
-
Rs 17.5 crore
Rs 28 crore
Rs 37.5 crore
Quantity
700 MT
900 MT
-
1900 MT
2736 MT
Value
7.8 crore
15 crore
-
22.8 crore
32.8 crore
Quantity
1,050 MT
-
115 MT
900 MT
7,000 MT
Value
14.1 crore
-
1.5 crore
12.6 crore
98 crore
Quantity
1000 MT
-
1000 MT
Value
10 crore
-
10 crore
Others
Value
472 crore
11.6 crore
37.5 crore
446.1 crore
573.75 crore
TOTAL
Quantity
24,868 MT
1,875 MT
5,665 MT
21,078 MT
33,390 MT
Value
Rs 549 crore
Rs 27 crore
Rs 67 crore
Rs 510 crore
Rs 742 crore
Shade-nets
Greenhouse
films
Mulch-mats
Crop-covers
Source : ICRA Management Services Report on Baseline Study Summary
TYPES OF GREEN HOUSE
Low cost – Vegetable
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Medium cost tunnel – Spices
High cost Floriculture
GREEN HOUSES
SASMIRA
2.5
3
mm
2.0 m
10 m
5m
TYPE
LOW COST
MEDIUM COST
HIGH COST
MATERIAL
Bamboo, Jute
Cloth/UV Stabilised
Plastic Film, shade
nets
PVC Pipes, UV
Stabilised Plastic Film/
Shade net, Plastic
Wires
Metallic frame, UV
Stabilised Plastic Film/
nets, plastic wires
FEATURES
Natural control on
temp.& humidity
Air circulating fans to
Systems to control and
control temp. & humidity regulate temp. & humidity
COST
100 – 125
450 – 500
(Rs./sq.m)
1500 - 2000
SASMIRA
ADVANTAGES OF GREEN HOUSE USAGE FOR DIFFERENT CROPS
S.N
.
CROP
TYPE OF GREEN
HOUSE
INCREASED
YIELD %
INCREASED
INCOME %
1
Leafy
Vegetables
Low cost
50
60
2
Flowers
Medium Cost
56
91
3
Tomato
Low Cost
159
91
4
Capsicum
Medium cost
210
110
5
Other
Vegetables
Low cost
Medium Cost
185
290
150
90
MULCHES
SASMIRA
• Substrates used in proximity to soil to help conservation
of soil moisture and the moderation of soil temperature
irrespective of climatic conditions
• Materials used for mulching
– Black Plastic Film (BPM)
– Nonwoven fabrics
BPM in marigold
7-micron plastic in bitter gourd
SASMIRA
BENEFITS OF MULCHING
• Moisture conservation
• Maintenance of soil structure
• Soil borne pathogens control
• Better fertilizer use
• Increase in yield
• Weed control
ECONOMICS OF MULCHES
S.
N.
Crop
Mulch
Material
Water
Saving
%
Increase
in yield %
Additional
income
(‘000 Rs./ha)
Remarks
1
Banana
Black plastic
mulch 100 µ
35
18
10
90 % weed control
90 % coverage
2
Brinjal
Black plastic
mulch 50 µ
NA
44
5.0
Rainfed crop
Applied after 15 days
of cessation of
monsoon
3
Chillies
Black plastic
mulch 50 µ
20
29
30.0
1 irrigation can be
saved
5
Cotton
Black plastic
mulch 50 µ
NA
93
40.5
Rainfed crop
6
Tomato
Black plastic
mulch 50 µ
44
53
14.2
98 % weed control
SASMIRA
Nonwoven mulches vis-à-vis Mulch films
Conventional Mulch films
• Using HDPE sheets, prevent weed growth
• However, do not provide controlled microclimate for
crop growth
Nonwoven mulches like
• Spunbond polypropylene nonwovens
• Multilayer construction of mulchmats consisting of
Needle punched Nonwoven, Support scrim and
Monoporous laminate
• Advantages
o Controlled soil microclimate
o Appropriate soil and water management
o Prevent weed growth
SASMIRA
Textile Mulches
(Nonwoven & Woven)
Property
Sample 1
(NW
Needle Punch)
Sample 2
(NW Spun
Bonded)
Sample 3
(NW Spun Bonded)
Sample 4
(Woven)
Polymer
Jute
PP
PP
PP
GSM
1241
124.4
109.9
100
Thickness (mm)
7.86
0.55
0.53
1.0
Tensile Strength
(Kgf)
14.4 x 10.1
19.1 12.3
18.2 x 8.9
113 x 70
Tear strength (kgf)
-
16.5 x 8.8
17.4 x 6
28 x 19.2
Water Permeability
(lt/sq-m/sec)
42.6
16.3
36.8
39
Water vapour permeability
g/sq.m./day
504
1041.7
1037.5
742
42 %
38 %
30 %
8%
Loss in strength after 500
hours UV exposure
SASMIRA
HDPE Film Mulches
S.No.
Property
1
Thickness µ
2
Tensile Strength(Kg/cm2)
3
4
Sample 1
Sample 2
16
50
Direction-I
190.00
267.00
Direction-II
137.00
200.00
Direction-I
0.30
1.90
Direction-II
0.80
2.30
Water vapour permeability
g/sq.m/day
11.3
9.6
Tear Strength(lbs)
SASMIRA
Benefits of Usage of
Protective Agrotextiles
• Controlled cultivation of crops w.r.t. natural
variants like sunlight, rainfall, humidity, soil
moisture, etc.
• Protection from attack of birds, insects and
other pests.
• Prevention of weed growth.
• Reduction in harvesting and post harvesting
losses.
SASMIRA
IMPEDIMENTS TO MARKETING OF
AGROTEXTILES
• Lack of awareness amongst the agriculturist
• Lack of proper guidance on usage of
Agrotextile products
• The attitude of being bandwagons
• Unorganized structure of cultivation
• Absence of norms on Price and Quality of
Agrotextile products
• Absence of Government regulations
SASMIRA
STEPS TO PROMOTE USAGE
AGROTEXTILES IN THE COUNTRY
 Organising Programmes for Promotion and
Awareness of Agrotextiles in the country
 Creating demonstration farms
 Availability of cost benefit analysis on usage of
Protective Agrotextiles for various crops
 Laying down Quality norms for the Agrotextile
products being used by the cultivators
 Proposing Government Regulations
SASMIRA
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
AGROTEXTILES
OUR VISION
“To become a world class leading service driven
national center for technical textile with international
accreditation to serve the industry in general and
agriculture sector in particular”
MISSION
COE AGROTEXTILE
SASMIRA
• Creating awareness regarding agrotextiles products amongst
agriculturists
• To assist the industry for entrepreneurship in the field of
agrotextiles
• To provide training to the potential agrotextile manufacturers
and users.
• To create state-of-the-art testing and certification facilities
for agrotextile products
• To achieve self –reliance for the Centre of Excellence
• To develop and indigenise cost-effective agrotextile products
• To help the agricultural sector mainly to attain
•Increased productivity by protection of crops
•Early harvesting
•Improved means of controlled irrigation
•Conservation of natural resources
SASMIRA
STATE – OF –THE-ART
FACILITIES AT COE AGROTEXTILES
• Demonstration Pilot Plant facilities
• Accredited Testing facilities
• Information center for Agrotextiles
• Training Center for Agrotextiles
SASMIRA
Concluding Remarks
• Protective Agrotextiles like shade nets, harvesting
nets, ground covers, etc are beneficial for cultivation.
• It is required is we popularise these products to the
masses through media, awareness programmes,
demonstration centres, and Government regulations.
• There is a strong need to strengthen the research on
horticultural crops and to develop demand-driven
technology by improved variety, pest management,
etc., in both public and private sectors.
• These technologies should be quickly disseminated to
the farmers and help them to upgrade their technical
abilities.
SASMIRA
• A small targeted group of talented stakeholders and
small entrepreneurs should be identified and assisted
in obtaining access to funding, technical assistance
and supply chain partners.
• This small group should be actively encouraged to
develop business plans and feasibility studies.
• Also, the Centre of Excellence is working towards
evaluation, standardisation of Agrotextile products.
• What is required is industry – academia working
together with the cultivators with support from the
Government.
SASMIRA