High-Tech Poly Houses Constructed in J & K to boost Vegetable Cultivation

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constructed new high-tech poly-houses in Srinagar in order to boost the cultivation of vegetables in the UT. These high-tech houses have been constructed under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Program sponsored by the central government and they have latest features such as humidity control, a fogger system, temperature controller and heating system for the harsh winter season. The poly-house covers an area of over 2000 square feet.

The new system is expected to yield better quality with the help of the latest agricultural equipment. Now, the farmers will not be required to depend on the natural processes to grow vegetables but now they can grow vegetables at night or even during the off-season.

Implications

In Jammu and Kashmir, a number of people depend on vegetable cultivation for the purpose of earning a livelihood. The previous poly-houses were very old and produced a lot of waste. With the new technology in place, it is now possible to grow a vegetable within two months instead of the previous timeline of 8 months. This will help in the generation of income for the farmers in the UT.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

The scheme was launched in 2007 as an umbrella scheme for ensuring the holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors. The scheme incentivizes the states to increase the public expenditure in agriculture and allied sectors. The main objective is to make farming a remunerative activity through the strengthening of the efforts by the farmers, risk mitigation and promoting agri-business entrepreneurship.

What are Poly Houses?

These are tunnels made from steel and covered in polyethene, usually semi-circular, square or elongated in shape. The interior is heated up because of the solar radiation from the sun. These are mainly utilized in the temperate regions for providing protection to crops from intense heat, bright sunlight, winds, hailstorms, etc. They also help vegetables and fruits grow during the off-seasons.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020