Page 173 - CW E-Magazine (22-7-2025)

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may not be needed in India as we get
adequate sunshine through the year.

Importantly, this technique has the
potential to reduce the requirement of
farm labour, which is in short supply in
India due to migration of farm labour to
cities in search of a better life.

Collaboration with those who know
better
Countries like Israel have developed
a range of technologies for intensive
Use of drip irrigation has potential to ten layers of trays; water treatment and farming. Despite limited resources – cul-
reduce water consumption, reduce ferti- drippers; blowers to feed fresh air; and a tivable land, water for irrigation and fer-
liser inputs, improve quality of produce polyethylene cover over the entire struc- tilizers – their farm productivity is one
and raise yields. ture to control the environment. Ladders of the highest in the world. They have
are required for workmen to work with mastered several technologies like drip
We should also concentrate on grow- the trays at elevation. irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, use of
ing fruits that are in great demand world treated sewage for farming, and mecha-
over. For example, India is blessed to If adequate investment is made nisation of farm equipment for harvest-
have several mango varieties, some of available, this appears a very possible ing specifi c crops such as cotton, citrus
which can fetch prices of up to $10 a solution to feed the growing popula- fruits, etc. They have also developed
piece. In Maharashtra’s Konkan region, tion. Other advantages are less travel for several devices for planting, transplant-
eff orts should be undertaken to expand workmen, lesser workmen, lesser dis- ing, processing and storage of produce.
cultivation of the famed Alphonso man- tance to market for buying inputs (ferti-
goes. The current price of Rs. 1,000 a lizers, agrochemicals, seeds), as also Integrated farming
dozen for this premium variety has kept for selling the output crops. There is no Traditionally, farmers have been
it out of reach for most ordinary citizens. need for insurance against crop failure dividing the land and handing it over to
That should and can change! as the crops would not be impacted by the next generation. This has reduced
the vagaries of weather. the average farm size. Only recently
Vertical farming have restrictions been imposed by some
I visited a farm near Nashik that A variety of crops – fruits, vegeta- States on the minimum size of a plot.
grows nearly 50 times more turmeric bles (seasonal and non-seasonal) and But some States still allow holding of as
on a one-acre area, as compared to open fl owers – can be grown. The produce is little as 1,000-ft of agricultural land.
2
land farming. It is a rented plot other- eco-friendly as little or no pesticides are
wise unsuitable for agricultural use. required and less water is used. Fresh air Land laws need a serious revision.
This modifi ed version of a greenhouse is fed to the greenhouse to replenish the There is huge loss of cultivable land due
needs an investment of over Rs. 1-crore carbon dioxide. Good amount of infor- to the need for borders, approach roads,
in hardware to convert the 1-acre plot mation on this topic is publicly avail- canal passages, etc. to diff erent land
to the equivalent of a 100-acre con- able, including on the Internet. owners. As per a preliminary estimate,
ventional piece of land. The hardware Companies who have investible about 30% of cultivable land is lost on
comprises: steel structures to support funds should be encouraged to buy non- account of these issues.
productive, barren lands where such
investments can be done. Vertical farming Diff erent crops growing on the same
does not depend on soil quality; instead, land also reduces farm productivity.
it is dependent upon the soil fi lled in the
trays. Raising agricultural productivity is a
big and complex issue, involving social
While in many countries artifi cial and economic factors, and it needs
lights are used in vertical farming, this serious deliberations.

Chemical Weekly July 22, 2025 173

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