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Journalism of Courage
Precision farming practice is scaling new heights in Punjab with net house farming of vegetables picking up not only amongst small and marginal farmers but also among farmers with large holdings.
While 300 net houses were built last year,another 260 have been added till this time. The Punjab Farmers8217; Commission is reaching out to more and more farmers.
We wanted small farmers earn more from their small land holding; the technique is helping them survive in the farm sector, said Punjab Farmers Commission chairman Dr G S Kalkat,the brain behind the technique.
Though both big and small farmers are adopting the technique to cultivate early vegetables,it is proving more beneficial for small farmers with tiny land holdings. They are reaping higher yields and better profits, said Dr Buta Singh Ramana,expert and advisor of net house technique in Punjab Farmers Commission. He added that over 120 net houses were set up in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur districts in the past one year.
The technique,says Dr Buta Singh,involves making a hut in the fields with the help of pipes of around 10.5 feet high,which is covered with UV stablised insect-proof mesh net. Both nets and pipes are brought from Pune and Bangalore,he added.
Horticulture Development Officer Jalandhar Dr Daljit Singh Gill said making a net house on a kanal of land involves an expenditure of Rs one lakh,of which 40 per cent expenditure is borne by the Farmers Commission. A farmer can get subsidy for two kanals of land,he said. Dr Gill said the net house requires 70 per cent less water,99 per cent less sprays of insecticides and pesticides.
Gurjit Singh of Bullowal in Hoshiarpur,who has adopted the practice,said the traditional farming of wheat and paddy fetched him Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000 per acre; he now earns Rs 70,000 to Rs one lakh from a kanal 8212; which is one-eighth of an acre.
Dr Buta Singh said Haryana,too,is ready to adopt the technique on the same pattern as Haryana.
