New Delhi: The International Conference on “Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops, Post-Harvest Handling and Digital Agriculture” is being organized by Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences, Prayagraj on 20-30 November, 2023. Participants will share their rich experiences with scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers, government officials, NGOs and others at this two-day mega event.
Dr. Devi Singh, Organizing Secretary and Associate Professor, Dept. of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute SHUATS, Prayagraj said, “Protected cultivation, particularly of horticultural crops, provides unique opportunities for assured, climate-resilient and enhanced production of quality products. The technology is in greater demand as India is transforming rapidly, both socio-economically and environmentally.”
He further said that protected cultivation of vegetables and flowers offers distinct advantage of quality, productivity and favourable market price to the growers. It increases their income in off-season as compared to normal season. Off-season cultivation of cucurbits under plastic tunnel is one of the most profitable technology under Northen plains of India. Walk-in tunnels are also suitable and effective to raise offseason nursery of horticultural crops and off season vegetable cultivation due to their low initial cost.
Insect proof net houses can be used for virus-free cultivation of tomato, chilli, sweet pepper, cucumber and other vegetables mainly during the rainy season.
“The low cost structures are also suitable for growing green vegetables of high quality for long duration which can go up to 10 months mainly in peri-urban areas of the country to fetch commensurate price of produce. Poly trenches have proved to be extremely useful for growing vegetables and flowers under cold desert conditions of Himalayas. This meet aims to assemble and redefine the scientific information and adopted technologies of various flora including the farmers’ fields in a holistic manner of production to consumption chain management and addressing crucial area and technological gaps,” Dr. Devi Singh added.
Digital agriculture uses modern digital technologies such as precision agriculture, big data analytics, and the internet of things (IOT) to improve agricultural production, reduce waste, and enhance the overall efficiency of farming. These technologies can help farmers make data-driven decisions and optimize their operations, he said.
He opined that agripreneurs play a pivotal role in the agricultural value chain, contributing significantly to increasing agricultural GDP through value addition. There is a pressing need for farmers to embrace entrepreneurship and adopt agripreneurship models that facilitate the formation of local groups.
“Agripreneurship is poised to play a crucial role in the growth and development of the national economy, raising income levels and creating employment opportunities in both rural and urban areas. India’s share in global trade of horticultural produce is 1.0% only. In India, less than 2% of total production of fruits and vegetables are processed. This figure is 50% in US, 70% in Brazil, 78% in Phillippines, 80% in South Africa and 83% in Malaysia. The extent of value addition is only 7% in India as against 23% in China and 88% in UK,” Dr. Singh concluded.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE
Critical review of the status with respect to designing of infrastructure like greenhouse, net houses, shadenet, nursery, drip- irrigation system for protected cultivation in different agro-climatic locations.
Alternative scenario of crop improvement programmes for protected cultivation.
Formulation of standardized production technologies under protected cultivation including IPM, INM grafting of vegetables seedling and the use of drip irrigation, fertigation and super absorbents for improving water and nutrient use efficiency.
Income from small land holding could be increased several folds and self-employment opportunity for educated youths on farm could be increased.
To obtain sufficiency in fruits, vegetables and flowers by proper management of post harvest losses.
Value addition offers best opportunity to tap marketing potential of horticultural crops, especially in liberalized trade and tariff scenario of the world.
