Rajendra Singh Khichar
Agriculture Research Officer
Directorate of Horticulture, Rajasthan
094142-13718
0141-2227706
Presentation covers
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Agro Textile : The emerging need
Present Scenario in Rajasthan
Future perspective in the state
Users expectations from Industry
Rajasthan
Salient Features
Contains largest country’s area
Limited water resource
Extreme of climatic conditions: Temp, RH, Rainfall, Wind velocity
Primitive stage of hi-tech horticultural activities
Low farm income
Requirement of Alternative farming system for sustainable Agril. Prodn.
All these condition favours the Vast potential for Agro-textile
Most of Agri-Horticultural activities governed by
Sunlight & 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
Absence of control factors leads to
• Yield percentage is unsatisfactory
• Quality of produce is marred
• Damages to the produce
• Regional limitation on cultivation
• Seasonal limitation on cultivation
Agro textiles are the best solutions to regulate these factors
Agro Textile:
An Introduction
Special textiles
applications
that
are
manufactured
for
agricultural
These textile structures are used as controlling environment for
plants/ animals in applications like
– Agriculture
– Horticulture
– Animal husbandry
Agro-textile Products
• Shading net
•Bird Protection Net
•Anti Hail Net
• Windshield fabrics
• Plant nets
• Harvesting nets
• Mulch Mat
• Filters for MI
• Packing Material
Root Ball Nets
Insect Meshes
Turf Protection
Tape Nets
Cherry Covers
Benefits of Agro-textile Products
Provides favorable conditions for plant growth
Protection of crop from adverse weather conditions and vermin
Increase production in terms of quality and quantity
Off season & year round production of particular crop is possible
Decrease crop diseases/ soil borne pathogens
Water saving and its judicious use
Reduces Cost of Production
Reduces the pressure of chemicals in Agriculture
Cropped areas may be kept safe & tidy
Provides weed suppression and ground moisture conservation
Provides favourable conditions to roots to breathe and water, air and
nutrients to permeate through
Vegetable Cultivation under Shade Net House
About 1.8 lac Sqm Area under RKVY
Through Department of Horticulture
Assistance: 75 to 90 %
Vegetable Cultivation under Shade Net House
Nursery under Insect nets/ Anti vector nets
Kherwadi, Jaipur
Ratan pura
Khijuria Tiwadiyan
Vegetable Cultivation under Shade Net House
Coloured Capsicum Production 2009-10
Bassi, Jaipur
Vegetable Cultivation under Shade Net House
Coloured capsicum 2009-10
Vegetable Cultivation under Shade Net House
Cucumber production 2009-10
Nindad, Jaipur
Vegetable Cultivation under Shade Net House
2009-10
Sweet corn
Chukandar
Okra
Tomato
Nindad, Jaipur
Flower Cultivation under Poly / Green House
Through Horticulture Department under NHM
Coverage of about 1.5 lac Sqm
Assistance: 50 to 75 %
Flower Cultivation under Green House
Sawai Madhopur 2009-10
Vegetable Cultivation with Mulching
Water Melon: Jhunjhunu 2009-10
Vegetable Cultivation with Mulching
Shade net house2009-10
Vegetable Cultivation with Agro-textile support
Protected cultivation 2009-10
Vegetable Cultivation with Agro-textile support
Cucurbits: Bassi 2010-11
Anti Bird Net
Bird problem is a menace for our farmer especially for
high value fruits and vegetables. The whole project of
pomegranate has been linked with anti bird nets in the
state. The department is providing assistance up to
75% to promote these technologies.
Agro-textiles – the potential in Rajasthan
– Shade Nets
Year round production of high value crops/ vegetables specially in peri urban areas
with attractive farm income.
A n initial potential of 5 lac sqm per year in the state
– Mulch Mats –
Controls evaporation, weeds, disease & pests
A potential of about 5000 ha per year specially for vegetable & fruits
About 35000 ha area under drip irrigation have the potential covered with mulch
– Bird Protection Nets
A potential of about 1000 per year exists for high value crops & vegetables
– Harvesting Nets
For quality produce need of about 5 lac sqm harvesting nets per annum
-Packing material
For all vegetale & fruit production specially for potato, garlic & onion
Future prospective of Agro-textiles
• Polymer fibre balls as substitute for soil
• Screening fabrics for sunlight management
• Knitted net hose for water transportation
• Superabsorbent polymer fibre mats for water management in
horticulture applications
• Use of water retention nets coated with Superabsorbent
polymer resin
The ground covers, sunscreen nets,
plant nets, wind shields, monofil
nets, root ball nets, insect meshes,
weed control fabric, turf protection,
tape nets and packing sacks/ nets
are our next target products to be
used in this sector.
The Dire Need
Availability of Agro textiles with a reasonable price and quality is
the major hindrance to replicate the technology in vast potential
areas.
The Agro Textile products to be used in Rajasthan should have
the quality of resistance against solar UV radiation, high
temperatures and the high wind load.
Market network in remote areas is a dire need.
The product should be biodegradable.
The product should have high potential to retain water
Product awareness compaigns
The lack of technical specification/ parameter/ standards for Agro
Textile products is another field which needs to be care of.
Poor quality : not only requires frequent repairs
but the crop inside the structure will also be destroyed
Poor quality : not only requires frequent repairs
but the crop inside the structure will also be destroyed
SUGGESTED STUDY FIELDS FOR
STANDARDIZATION OF AGROTEXTILES
• Development of speciality fabric for water conservation and
soil erosion control used in horticulture application.
• Development of suitable coloured shade nets for different
crops and growth stages.
• Establishing structural parameters of agro-textile products and
their influence on the functionalc haracteristics of these
products.
• Development of Reflective Agro-textiles for Sun Management.