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Scope, Issues and Swot Analysis of protected cultivation in Gujarat State

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 Chapter 1
SCOPE, ISSUES AND SWOT ANALYSIS OF PROTECTED CULTIVATION IN
GUJARAT STATE
Alka Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, S.N. Saravaiya and B.N. Patel
ASPEE College of Horticulture & Forestry
Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari 396 450, Gujarat (India)

Protected cultivation refers to growing of crops under a fully/partially

controlled congenial microclimate created with the basic objective maximize the
yield; improve quality and resource saving through an enclosed structure like
greenhouse. Green house is seen as the most practical method of accomplishing the
objectives of protected cultivation. A green house is an artificially created structure
with a transparent or semitransparent cladding material which is meant to serve and
provide optimum congenial environment for plant growth like light, temperature,
humidity, CO2, shade, media etc. and protection from adverse conditions like wind,
rain, radiation precipitation etc. Further, New features added to the greenhouse
structure have curtailed the requirement of water and energy through precise means
employing micro irrigation-cum-nutrition management (fertigation) and sustainable
perspectives through water harvesting systems. Protected cultivation has the
potential to revolutionize the horticulture industry especially with regard to flower and
vegetable crops.
Scope:
Space for horizontal expansion is very little and the only available option is
vertical expansion through increased productivity and cropping intensity using
modern methods like protected intensive farming/vertical farming employing plant
environment control measures, quality seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, MIS and plant
protection. Protected farming is economically more rewarding in production of high
value, low volume crops, seeds and planting materials, off- season vegetables. With
appropriate structures and plant environment control measures the constraints of
environment prevalent in the region can be overcome allowing almost year-round
cultivation, increased productivity by 25-100 % and in certain cases even more, as
well as conservation of irrigation water by 25-50 %. Protected farming offers itself as
alternate farming method with much higher carrying capacity. Vertical farming holds
the promise of addressing these issues by enabling more food to be produced with
less resource use. However, in recent years in view of the globalization of
international market and tremendous boost and fillip that is being given for export of
agricultural produce, there has been a spurt in the demand for greenhouse
technology.
Term green house is basically a concept of manipulating the crop micro-
environment. It is generally a house like structure where the natural sunlight,
humidity, temperature and even the concentrations of greenhouse gases can be
manipulated to meet requirements of a particular vegetable crop. Greenhouse
technology is the most intensive form of commercial cultivation and could well be
called as "Food Factories". Greenhouses being the most efficient means to
overcome climatic diversity, greenhouse vegetable production make the use of
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advances in technology to control the environment for maximizing crop productivity
and increasing the quality of vegetable produce. Protected cultivation has the
potential of fulfilling the requirements of small grower as it can increase the yield
manifold and at the same time improve the quality of the produce significantly as per
the demand of the domestic as well as overseas market.
Structures and environment control measurers employed isolate this
cultivated space allowing cultivation in unfavourable ambient conditions in
reasonably close to optimal conditions and offer several advantages, as given below:
• Most suitable for cultivating high value/off-season crops
• Provides favourable micro-climate conditions for the plants
• Higher yield with better quality per unit area
• Conserves soil moisture thus needs less irrigation
• Easy management of pests and diseases
• Helps in hardening of tissue cultured plants
• Helps in raising early/ off season nurseries
• Round the year propagation of planting materials is possible
• Protects the plants from wind, snow, rain, birds, hail etc.
• Generates self-employment opportunities for educated youth
• Vegetable seed production
• Hybrid seed production
• Higher space utilization through technologies like hydroponics, aeroponics etc
and use of vertical beds for production.
Issues:
There has been a rapid stride in urbanization with an increase in world
population by leaps and bounds, expected to double in next 30 years. With the
population growth rate at 1.58 %, India is predicted to have more than 1.53 billion
people, all set to take the numero uno position by the end of 2030. Also, for the first
time in India’s history, by 2030, five states namely Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Punjab and Gujarat will have more population living in the cities than in
the villages. Gujarat is expected to be the second most urbanized state in the
country by the end of 2030, with 66 % of its population living in urban areas. Gujarat
today has 4 million-plus cities and its 8 municipal corporations accommodate more
than half the state’s population. The rapid pace of urbanization is expected to
continue, with the state adopting policies and holistic initiatives for sustainable and
inclusive urban development. This will continue to create significant opportunities in
civic amenities, urban utilities, urban mobility, affordable housing, real estate
development and urban infrastructure. Households in large cities in low-income
countries spend 50-80 per cent of their incomes on food and still nutritional deficits in
macronutrients and essential micronutrients are common.
Based on FAO projections, 13 % more land in developing countries like India
will be converted to agricultural use in the next 30 years. From a global perspective
this amounts to a meagre 2 % increase from the 38 % of global land area used in
2008 to a total of 40 %. This land expansion will account for only 20 % of future
increases in food production. Another 10 % additional production can be projected
from increased cropping intensity. Therefore, for the rest 70 %, we will have to call
upon innovation of efficient technologies and also judiciously use the ones at hand.
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In addition to the fact that land is limited and reclamation is a slow process often
coupled with environmental degradation, we are also losing land at an alarming rate
due to climate change and desertification.
Green Revolution with its emphasis on high yielding varieties, fertilizers,
pesticides and better agronomic practices swept like a wave in the country.
However, continuous use of GRTs indiscriminately have led to decline in production
and productivity of various crops as well as deterioration of soil health, environment
and more importantly the quality of horticultural crops. Use of current agro-
technologies and varieties coupled with climate change will certainly exacerbate
impact on crop production, soil fertility, microbial population and quality of food in
near future. Unfortunately, due to GRTs, the depletion of nutrients from soil has
increased in comparison to enhanced and the natural equilibrium has been skewed
towards imbalance. The impregnable efforts made in our country towards IPNM and
IPDM are not being pursued strongly as per the expectations. The spectrum of
various components in the rural, urban and peri-urban ecosystem is also changing
continuously.
Water requirement is expected to rise up to the level of 1093 Billion Cubic
Meters (BCM) and 1447 BCM by 2025 and 2050, respectively, of which 910 and
1072 BCM constituting 83.26 and 74.08 per cent, respectively of water would alone
be required for irrigation purposes (Anonymous, 2011). The present day cultivation
practices in various crops are largely targeted at using water resources injudiciously.
As ground water will be the dominant source of irrigation in the future, micro
irrigation technologies could offer significant opportunities for increasing water use
efficiency and thereby reduce over abstraction.
India is a predominantly agricultural country. The well-being of Indian
economy is directly connected with the welfare of her masses dwelling in the rural
areas. Industrialization is no doubt an indicator of development of a country.
Industrialization presents any country economically stronger across the globe but
simultaneous shrinkage of agricultural land through industrialization causes major
disquiet to this sector. Among many reasons behind the fall in agricultural production
graph and sustaining misery in rural India is land grabbing. Conversion of agricultural
lands into industrial, housing and commercial lands which has squeezed the volume
of agricultural lands has been rampant during last decade. When population growth
has led to the demand of more houses, construction of housing and commercial
complexes looking at the future demands and requirements grabbed more
agricultural and non-agricultural lands for real estate development. Lands on the
periphery of almost all big and small towns are acquired by real estate developers
and local housing companies.
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the development of new
agricultural technologies including advances in genetics, nutrition, disease and pest
management and livestock management was an important factor in the 20th century
productivity improvements. Land resource is finite; the dilemma of allocation of this
resource further complicates this problem. The first is the environmental dilemma
and the need to minimize the negative environmental effects of agriculture
particularly with regard to greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation and the
protection of already dwindling water supplies and biodiversity. A significant change
3
in climate on a global scale will impact agriculture and consequently affect the
world's food supply. Climate change per se is not necessarily harmful; the problems
arise from extreme events that are difficult to predict. More erratic rainfall patterns
and unpredictable high temperature spells will consequently reduce crop
productivity. Developing countries in the tropics will be particularly vulnerable.
Latitudinal and altitudinal shifts in ecological and agro-economic zones, land
degradation, extreme geophysical events, reduced water availability and rise in sea
level and salinization are postulated.
Therefore, we need to employ such agricultural technologies that have a
neutral or positive impact on our environment. The second is the economic dilemma
arising from conflicting goals to allocate crop-land from growing food to producing
grains for bio-fuels. The problems of protecting the environment and balancing the
world's need for energy and food require a complex and multifaceted approach.
Protected cultivation in India
The states and union territories that have adopted protected cultivation
in the country have increased from 9 states in 2007-08 to 30 states and union
territories in 2014-15. The phase-wise implementation of protected cultivation has
bolstered the adoption of protected cultivation across the country.
Combined efforts of the national boards such as NHM (National
Horticulture Mission), NHB (National Horticulture Board) and RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi
Vikas Yojna) have created awareness and are providing financial assistance to the
farmers to adopt protected farming methods for horticultural cultivation. The
component of protected cultivation is being strengthened under National Horticulture
Mission by Government of India by imparting 50% subsidy to the farmers. Incentives
in terms of subsidy to the tune of 65 and 75% are imparted by Government of
Gujarat to encourage the farmers for adopting protected cultivation by adding its
share of 15 and 25% in Central Government subsidy depending upon socio-
economic status of the farmers. To strengthen the approach further in this respect, a
Centre of Excellence for Vegetables was established in August, 2015 at Vadrad, Ta.
Prantij, District Sabarkantha (Gujarat) under Indo-Israel Agriculture Work Plan.
The states that have consistently expanded the area under protected
cultivation for the period of 2007-2015 are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Maharashtra and Gujarat had a
cumulative area of 10579 and 15045 hectares, respectively under the protected
cultivation till 2014-15. The area under the greenhouses has increased at a CAGR of
49.16 % from 2007 to 2012. With the rising involvement of the government, national
boards and the respective state agricultural agencies, the area under protected
cultivation is expected to rise at a CAGR of 84.2 % by 2017. The subsidy schemes,
international associations with countries such as Israel are expected to act as a
major boost for the protected cultivation in India. The only major challenge for the
adoption of the protected cultivation is the cost of the methods and lack of
awareness as well as technical know-how. If these aspects are taken care of by the
industrial players and the policy makers, then the protected cultivation industry will
showcase remarkable growth in the next 5 years.

4
Scenario of Protected cultivation in Gujarat
Vibrant Gujarat- a visionary approach of the Government of Gujarat has
channelized the process towards inclusive and sustainable development of all
sectors including agri-horti. For adoption of Greenhouse Technology by farmers,
Government of Gujarat has been providing subsidy @ 65% for general category and
75% for SC/ST category of the total cost with a maximum ceiling upto 4000 m2 per
beneficiary under National Horticulture Mission (NHM). This has resulted into
mushrooming of green units to about 20,000 numbers in last five years cultivating
vegetables, flowers and nurseries.
Gujarat at an advantage for protected cultivation
Gujarat has the potential to develop and flourish the protected cultivation
especially for vegetable as well as flower crops. Thus, the state is at the edge of
advantage, with following merits for strengthening of the flora-industry as mentioned
below
 Agro-climatic conditions –mild specifically in South Gujarat that are suitable for
various flower and vegetable crops
 Proximity to the consuming markets like Mumabi, Ahmedabad and Delhi
 Airports at Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad and Rajkot
 The zone has been recognized as Agri export zone and popularly known as
“Horticulture Bowl” and “Flower Basket” of the Gujarat
 Free from adverse climatic disturbance like monsoon, snowfalls and rainstorms
during the peak demand world wide from November-March (Christmas, New
Year day, Valentine’s Day, etc.)
 Progressive and innovative farmers
 Regularity in power supply
 Availability of skilled manpower
 Availability of growing and expanding domestic market
 Growing awareness for quality production in nurseries and development of
several intensive tissue culture units in neighbouring state of Maharashtra
 Constant research on hi-tech water and nutrition management in cut flowers in
different research centres and at NAU
 Availability and adoptability of sophisticated irrigation systems and climate
control systems
 Availability and adaptability of new modified green house technology suitable
for climatic conditions
 Availability of expert consultancy in protected cultivation suitable to our country
 Govt. policies are export friendly and floriculture is one of the thrust area for
promotion of exports
 Availability of transportation facilities
Farmers of the state are growing successfully various crops viz., cherry
tomato, tomato, parthenocarpic cucumber, coloured capsicum, green chilli, roses,
gerbera, greater yam, tannia etc. and nursery raising, roses, gerbera, carnation
under NVPH and hi-tech polyhouses. Simultaneously, farmers are taking the
advantage of growing regular tomato, cucumber, eggplant, capsicum, leafy
vegetables, ginger, turmeric. etc under insect proof nets/ shade net houses. The
5
farmers of the state have also witnessed excellent socio- economic growth due to off
season production of vegetables under walk in tunnels. The protected cultivation has
also opened new vistas in terms of providing high quality produce for domestic as
well as export market thus earning good foreign exchange. The government of
Gujarat has made extensive planning for the overall development of agri/horti
through technical service providers, centre of excellence for standardization of
technology, building up of knowledge societies, encouragement of use of honey
bees for pollination, post harvest management, planting material and vegetable
grafting for protected cultivation. The government of Gujarat has also planned for
developing Greenhouse Park in the line similar to Gujarat Industrial Development
Corporation (GIDC) pattern. The efforts of state government are also concentrated
towards setting up of Centre of excellence for protected cultivation under Indo-Israel
coloration for standardization of technologies for protected cultivation. Under the
umbrella of various state plan programmes, a research scheme of worth Rs. 50 crore
for development of various technologies pertaining to protected cultivation of
vegetable crops is being pursued by the SAUs viz., Navsari Agricultural University,
Navsari, Gujarat.
Concerns for Green House Failure
Although, greenhouse technology is flourishing in the state, hitherto, incidence of
greenhouse failures are observed mainly owing to the below mentioned reasons.
1. Structure of Greenhouse- The profile used in the GH frame, trusses and
other members are sometimes not of appropriate quality which gets
deformed by adverse climatic conditions. The foundation is sometimes not
sufficiently secured against uplift forces. Improper slope in the gutter may
lead to early leakage in heavy rainfall region
2. Cladding material- Unawareness regarding its quality aspects especially with
regard to its properties like UV stabilization, light Diffusion, sulphur resistant,
anti dust, anti fog etc. It may lead to tearing off with wind velocity and heavy
rainfall.
3. Thermic film or aluminium net is sometimes not used as per specification.
Rather simple shade net (low quality and cheaper material is used). This
does not suffice proper temperature regulation.
4. Lack of proper market survey and market intelligence study
5. Insufficient technical knowhow in the growers regarding the cultural practices
specially plant architecture development, nutrition management and plant
protection measures (Indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides is being
practiced).
Over and above these, there is no proper survey regarding the existing
greenhouse structures with standing crop, area covered under protected
cultivation, the crops being cultivated and marketed.
SWOT Analysis- A powerful tool for protected cultivation:
It is a powerful tool to plan a strategic process consisting of internal and
external forces. To develop a plan that takes into consideration many different
internal and external factors and maximizes the potential of Strengths and

6
Opportunities while minimize the impact of the Weakness and Threats.
Strengths (S) :  Maintain, build and pull
 Internal Positive Factors- may be capitalized
• High input use efficiency.
• Favourable micro-climate for better crop growth.
• High yield, off-season production and quality produce with export potential.
• Innovative, integrated, knowledge-oriented technology for sustainable
horticulture.
• Production of high quality planting material/ off-season nurseries.
• Good Governance
• Subsidy of 65 or 75% being imparted by Government of Gujarat (GoG).
• Positive attitude of progressive farmers on new technology (s).
• Good co-ordination and linkage with SAUs of Gujarat as well as Directorate
of Horticulture.
• Big niche markets in Gujarat as well as easy access to metropolises like
Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune etc. and other big cities.
• Well developed infrastructure and co-operatives.
• Higher income than outdoor production.
Weaknesses (W) :  Prioritize, optimize, remedy or exit
 Internal Negative Factors- may be improved
• Non-availability of indigenously bred/developed varieties/hybrids exclusively
for protected cultivation.
• Lack of cost effective and location specific design for greenhouses.
• High initial and operation cost of protected structure.
• Non-availability of tools and implements facilitating crop production
operations under protected structures.
• Knowledge and technology gaps in greenhouse management are prominent.
• Lack of marketing intelligence and strategy.
• Limited possibilities to demonstrate innovative products.
• Shortage of product specialist, sales agents/distributors, maintenance
companies.
• Environmental concern over the disposal of non-degradable plastic films
used in protected structures
Opportunities (O) :  Prioritize, Optimize,
 External Positive Factors- mat take advantage.
• Standardization of designs of protected structures for different agro-climatic
regions of the country
• Arrival of new technology (s) for farming community
• Development of POPs, INM and IPDM modules for greenhouses crops
• Organic farming for selected class of mass
• Revival of youths’ declined interest in agriculture through hi-tech agribusiness
and generation of young-skilled India.
• Removal of trade barriers.
• Promotion and extension provided by government sector.
• Increasing horticultural product for domestics and export demand.

7
 • Tremendous scope for establishment of processing units.
• An unfulfilled customer need.
• Scope to generate marketable surplus and also surplus for export.
• Inclusion of modern concept of protected cultivation (Hydroponics,
Aeroponics, Bioponics etc. in ambitious Smart Cities of India)
Threats (T) :  Counter
 Internal Negative Factors- may be prevented and
reduced
• Very little or negligible work on development of techno-economic feasible and
region specific cropping scheme.
• Market infrastructure may be inadequate keeping in view the increasing
product flow
• Uncertainty about market stability and farmers do not get remunerative price.
• Exploitation by middleman in the market chain
• Pest and diseases are main problem when the greenhouse structures grow
older
• Lack of standards for crop production in protected culture.
• Lack of standards for post harvest management of the produce
• Inefficiency of farm management makes farmers difficult to get the
advantages of globalization and trade liberalization.
• Cash flow and bad debts problems
• Unawareness on new regulations
• Easy and inexpensive availability of artificial flowers curtails natural flower
market

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