Hi-Tech Horticulture PDF

Hi-Tech Horticulture  Hi-tech Horticulture in India Horticulture an integral part of food and nutritional security and is also an essential element of economic security. Adoption of horticulture has brought prosperity in many states viz. , Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhr...

Hi-Tech Horticulture  Hi-tech Horticulture in India Horticulture an integral part of food and nutritional security and is also an essential element of economic security. Adoption of horticulture has brought prosperity in many states viz. , Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. What is Hi-Tech Horticulture?  Hi-tech horticulture is a knowledge based horticulture system which make use of technology to increase the value and quality of farm produce.  It is technology which is modern, less environment-dependent and capital intensive but with a capacity to improve productivity and farmer’s income.  It is useful not only for production of fruits, vegetables and flowers but also for conservation, plant protection, post-harvest management including value- addition. Importance and scope The present scenario of horticulture sector in India is encouraging  Due to increase in population, there is a great pressure on natural resources added with global warming and climate change, decreasing land holdings, and high demand of quality horticultural fresh produce.  Situation demands a shift towards modern technologies of crop production.  The precise production techniques for efficient use of inputs at the appropriate time and quantity for maximization of yield and quality in different horticultural crops.  It is a chain system of culturing fruits, flowers, vegetables and spices with a proper linkage from selection of seed/variety to the finished product through the process of modern technique of crop production through post-harvest management techniques.  Hi-tech horticulture has overcome a barrier of agro-climates making most of the vegetables and other horticultural products available to the consumers in all calendar months although at a premium price. Technologies use 1. High Density Planting 2. Integrated nutrient, water, weed and pest management 3. Precision Farming 4. Organic farming 5. Use of modern immuno-diagnostic techniques for quick detection of viral diseases 6. Post-harvest technologies including cold chain etc. 7. Use of genetically modified (GM) crop varieties 8. Protected cultivation 9. Micro-propagation Advantages of high-technology farming 1. Increase in yield up to 5 to 8 times – high productivity per unit area 2. Significant saving in key inputs like water (up to 50%), fertilizers (25%) and pesticides. 3. Better growth and uniformity in quality 4. Feasible even in undulating terrains, saline, water logged, sandy & hilly lands Potential areas for Hi-tech horticulture 1. Urban and peri-urban areas to meet requirements of fresh produce like vegetables, fruits and flowers round the year 2. Areas with limited land and water resources 3. Areas where availability of land for cultivation is restricted because of snowfall and where low temperature is prevalent restricting cultivation of crops under open field conditions. 4. Small and marginal land holdings for adopting intensive production technologies 5. As an agri-business enterprise for enterprising youth in rural and urban peripherals  High Density Planting  Pioneered for temperate fruits in Europe.  First planted in Europe at the end of 1960.  HDP is defined as planting at a density in excess of that which gives maximum crop yield at maturity if the individual tree grows to its full natural size.  HDP is one of the improved production technologies to achieve the objective of enhanced productivity of fruit crops.  Based on plant population HDP is termed as low HDP with less than 250 trees/ha, higher HDP with 500-1250trees/ha, and ultra HDP with more than 1250 trees per ha.  The exact limits of plant density to be termed as are not yet well defined.  Yield and quality of the produce are two essential components of the productivity.  HDP aims to achieve the twin requisites of productivity by - Maintaining a balance between vegetative and reproductive load without impairing the plant health.  In India, HDP has been proved useful in many fruit crops e.g. Pineapple, banana, mango, apple and citrus. Principle of HDP  To make the best use of vertical and horizontal space per unit time and  To harness maximum possible returns per unit of inputs and resources.  Increased capture sunlight per unit area.  Land use efficiency.  Appropriate vegetative reproductive balance of the plants Components of HDP  Planting system  Canopy management  Use of dwarfing rootstock/interstock  Training and pruning  Shoot pruning  Root pruning  Use of growth regulators Advantages of HDP  Best utilization of land and resources.  Higher yield per unit area with quality fruits.  Reduces labour cost resulting in low cost of production  Facilitates more efficient use of fertilizers, water, solar radiation, fungicides, weedicides and pesticides.  It is amenable to modern inputs application techniques such as drip irrigation, fertigation, mechanization etc.  Early economic returns. Disadvantages of HDP  In long run, it results in heavy competition for space, nutrients and water.  Overcrowded growth of canopy results in buildup of high humidity, reduced cross ventilation in the orchard, which are conducive for more incidence of pests and diseases.  The trees in close plantings soon begin to crowd each other and yields decline Efforts to breed dwarfing rootstocks that can control the growth of mature trees have been largely un successful.  Effective canopy management appears to be the largest barrier to success of high density orchards. Methods of HDP  High density can be achieved by close planting which in turn is made possible through control of tree size or planting in a system which accommodates more number of plants.  Manipulation of tree vigor is an important prerequisite for success of high density planting in any fruit crop.  High density of fruit orchards is generally achieved by controlling the size of tree or through improved planting system.  Tree size can be controlled by applying different methods such as - Use of genetically dwarf scion cultivars, Use of dwarfing rootstocks and inter stock Training and Pruning, Use of growth retardants, Induction of viral infection, Use of incompatible rootstock, and Use of genetically dwarf scion cultivars etc.  HDP system of Mango growing Attributes HDP system Plant 5x5 meter Spacing Tree 160 plants/acre Numbers Bearing After four year Production Higher yield Management Easy to manage due to small tree size Labour Requires less labour requirement Production Lower cost of Cost Production Harvesting Easy Quality Small canopy, better air and sunlight penetration, mini disease incidence and high-quality fruits with good colour development  Economics of High Density Mango Cultivation High-density planting technique is a modern method of Mango cultivation involving the planting of mango trees densely, allowing small or dwarf plants with modified canopy for better light interception and distribution and ease of mechanized field operation. HDP orchard gives increased yield as well as returns/unit area due to increasing the number of trees/unit area. It is possible by regular pruning and use of growth regulators for maintaining the size and shape of the tree.  Model investment pattern in Mango orchard (rs/Acre) Sl. No. Particulars HDP Value % A. 1. Rental value of land 13250 4.44 2. Bore 21310 7.13 3. Pump set 25418 8.51 4. Sprayer 1328 0.44 5. Plant material 9750 3.26 6. Digging of fit & planting 12188 4.08 7. Staking 1500 0.50 8. Fencing - 0 Sub Total 84744 28.37 B. Ist year 55364 18.54 IInd year 52856 17.70 IIIrd year 52856 17.70 IVth year 52856 17.70 Subtotal (I+II+III+IV) 213932 71.63 Total Establishment Cost (A+B) 298676 100.00 Maintenance cost of high density mango orchard during gestation period (rs/Acre) Sl. No. Particulars High density Plant I II III IV Total % Variable Cost A. Labour cost A. Land preparation 1275 1275 1275 1275 5100 2.38 1. Gap filling 1330 - - - 1330 0.62 2. FYM Application 1400 1400 1400 1400 5600 2.62 3. Fertilizer application 1424 1424 1424 1424 5696 2.66 4. Weeding 1352 1352 1352 1352 5408 2.53 5. Inter cultivation 1850 1850 1850 1850 7400 3.46 6. PPC spraying 992 992 992 992 3968 1.85 7. Irrigation 2195 2195 2195 2195 8780 4.10 8. Total Labour Cost 11818 10488 10488 10488 43282 20.23 B. Material Cost 1. - - - Seedling for gap 950 950 0.44 2. FYM 3200 3200 3200 3200 12800 5.98 3. Fertilizers 4218 4218 4218 4218 16872 7.89 4. PPC 3210 3210 3210 3210 12840 6.00 Total Material Cost 11578 10628 10628 10628 43462 20.32 1. Premium paid 950 950 950 950 3800 1.78 2. Managerial Cost (10% of TC) 5033 4805 4805 4805 19448 9.09 Total Variable Cost 29379 26871 26871 26871 109992 51.41 II. Fixed cost Maintenance cost of Mango orchard in bearing period (V year& onwards) (Rs./Ac/Year)