Polyhouse Technology for High-Value Crops: Variability in Practices and Outcome

The protected cultivation technology holds special significance for hilly states like Himachal Pradesh where arable land is scarce due to uneven terrain and holdings are small and fragmented. A number of polyhouses has been constructed throughout the state under Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan Samridhi Yojna (PDDKBSY). The scheme involved huge investments but has not yielded the expected and desirable results. Also the benefits could not be sustained for desirable period because of some technological gaps in the management of polyhouses. In order to examine these technological gaps, a study was conducted in two blocks of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. A sample of 60 polyhouse farmers (33 small and 27 large) was selected by proportional allocation method. Department of Agriculture was reported to be the major motivational force behind the adoption of technology by the farmers however only 38 per cent of the beneficiaries had genuine interest behind the installation of polyhouses. Eighty-five per cent of the beneficiaries were trained but all after the installation of polyhouses. The average area under protected cultivation was 110.45 m2 on small category and 302.89 m2 on large category. Capsicum accounted for maximum area (37.91%) followed by tomato (32.52 per cent) and cucumber (29.57 per cent). On an average, the productivity of cucumber was highest (9.99 q/100m2) followed by tomato (7.12 q/100m2). Gaps in the output of different crops varied from 26-36 per cent. More than 40 per cent of farmers were in low (< 40 per cent) technical efficiency range. The total cost of cultivation per 100 m2 area on small farms was Rs. 13,939, 13,848 and 11,312, for capsicum, tomato and cucumber, respectively and on large farms it was Rs. 10,935, 10,672 and 8952, respectively. Net returns over variable costs were Rs. 21,800, 11,836 and 8,406 on small farms and Rs. 12,180, 7,754 and 6,524 on large farms for capsicum, tomato and cucumber, respectively. Significantly high gaps were observed in the management practices like seed and soil treatments, pinching/pruning, spacing and plant protection. The existing design and structure of sampled polyhouses was found to have yawning gaps w.r.t. site selection, shape and orientation of polyhouses, foundation security and quality of cladding material etc. Negative gaps were observed in case of the inputs, viz., seed, seedlings, composts, nitrogenous fertilisers, MOP and plant protection chemicals on different crops indicating excess use by average farmers. Thus, the gaps in yields of crops were contributed more by the faulty management practices, faulty construction/design of polyhouses and scant attention of farmers towards the precautionary measures. Some suggestions to ensure the success of protected cultivation are: selection of genuine farmers, prior training of the beneficiaries, proper construction of polyhouses and provision of efficient advisory services.