A Complete Guide on How to Start Greenhouse Farming
Introduction
The future belongs to agriculture. It’s a fact that we all understand. But what is the future of agriculture? Agriculture is dwindling in the present scenario, not because of the dwindling food supply, but because it is no longer viewed as a desirable career. Urbanization is on the rise, as people migrate from rural areas to cities. The number of internal migrants living in metropolitan areas in India surpasses 300 million. They mostly come from farming families. There are several reasons for this, including the challenges of farming. A key sign of agriculture’s challenges is farmers’ dependency on seasons, environmentally unsustainable farming practices, and labor shortages on some farms where agricultural laborers are imported not only from neighboring states but also from further afield (particularly the northeast) including Nepal. Likewise, farmers in rural regions face issues such as accessibility, price monopolies, and obstacles that hinder the efficient and effective operation of farm activities.
This is your ultimate guide on how-to on starting your greenhouse – step-by-step instructions and advice on what tools you’ll need, where to start looking for land, how much it costs, what crops are best suited for greenhouses etc.
What is Greenhouse Farming?
Agriculture is a difficult business, with crops continually presented to unfavorable weather conditions. Climate and environmental conditions assume a significant part in deciding the pace of crop production. During times where worldwide food security relies vigorously upon crop creation, notwithstanding, there’s no place for restraints. Thus, the search for solutions has led to farm management practices that employ cultivation in a controlled environment. Greenhouse farming is the one-of-a-kind farm practice of developing vegetables under a covered design, regularly produced using a transparent, or in part transparent material. The primary motivation behind greenhouses is to give ideal developing conditions and shield crops from negative climate and vermin.
Which Crops are suitable for Greenhouse farming?
Growing greens in the greenhouse is an expensive endeavor and hence, high-yielding crops that have a high commercial value & durable market demand are the crops to grow in the Greenhouse. For certain crops, such as tomatoes, greenhouses are most commonly used for commercial production. Greenhouses are often used to grow flowers, vegetables, fruits, and transplants. Special greenhouse strains may also be grown in them.
A greenhouse’s profitability depends on the market, climate, labor supply, and available raw materials. Popular Greenhouse Crops for Flowering and Vegetable Production:
Floriculture – Gerbera, Dutch Rose, Carnations, Anthurium, Lily, Orchids, Gypsophila, Limonium, Alstroemeria
Vegetable & Fruit – Colour Capsicum, Cucumber, Tomato, Exotic vegetable, Strawberry
How to select a site for Greenhouse construction?
The careful arranging that goes into planning and building an effective, productive greenhouse framework starts before you even form it. Before all the other things are chosen, the working site must be picked. While choosing an appropriate site for the greenhouse, there are various “area factors” to consider before settling on an ultimate choice in regards to the greenhouse’s area. Before choosing to begin greenhouse farming, you need to think about a significant factor to get profitable in greenhouse farming.
1. The Microclimate
Climatic conditions have fueled a worldwide geographic shift in agricultural practices. These forces are also playing out locally. The main constraint on greenhouse crops is low light intensity during winter. An area prone to frequent fog, harsh weather, or shaded by trees or high mountains is poor for growing crops altogether.
2. Availability of natural resources
The water supply is one of the most commonly overlooked resources in the setting up of a greenhouse farm. A sufficient supply of quality water is crucial to the production of greenhouse crops. Regular irrigation is required, and it requires careful planning and management to make sure the operation has enough water to sustain an adequate supply for crop production.
3. Accessibility of workers
Workers ought to have the option to get in and out rapidly. The necessities of present and future work ought to be distinguished and surveyed to get it understanding of the work supply around there. A worker deficiency is a continuing issue in the greenhouse space. The most ideal decision for you is to discover an area close to the metropolitan region for your greenhouse. If you are the one considering beginning a greenhouse, it is good to understand if labor is available to perform both routine and harvest-time duties.
4. Solar Prominence
Since plants require light for photosynthesis, it’s critical to determine how the sunlight will reach them. Low light reduces photosynthesis and causes slow growth and fruit and flower abortion. The result is a low yield and minimal financial return. The location of your greenhouse and the time of year make a big difference in photosynthesis; locations that don’t receive enough solar radiation in the winter will need supplemental lighting.
5. Routes
Good roads are a must for greenhouse farming in India or anywhere else in the world. For example, unpaved roads mean that when you transport your harvest the fruit will be subjected to all that rough movement from the vehicle which could cause bruises, crushing, and other major damage to your fruit.
6. Expandable
It’s a good idea to buy more land than you’ll initially need so you’ve got the potential to grow out there later.
7. Housing for growers and operators:
Growers and operators should all live fairly close to the greenhouse, in case of an emergency. Close proximity to the place will also improve the chances of you taking care of your greenhouse farm on a regular basis.
8. Topography
The topographical factors like the shape of the land, e.g., hilly, steep, rocky, flat of the site affect where a growing greenhouse structure is built. The ground beneath the greenhouse needs to be flat and not moving. Placement of growing structure on flat ground is effective because it allows easy adjustment of various mechanical controls in the greenhouse, which makes it cost-effective. The site needs to be well-drained.
Advantages of Greenhouse Technology
The main, enduring advantage of greenhouse farming is that it can manage effectively and decrease risks related to unfavorable weather conditions. Plus, in practical terms, greenhouse farming optimizes growing conditions and protects crops from extreme weather events. Some types of greenhouse farming (including heated grow rooms) can extend the growing season, or even permit farmers to grow crops outside of their normal growing season. Additionally fitted greenhouses allow farmers to have total control over their crop production, leading to faster growth and higher yields. Scroll down for more benefits of Greenhouse technology:
Greenhouse farming permits you to create slow time of year vegetable and organic product crops.
The greenhouse sets up the most positive climatic conditions for each harvest and phase of farming.
A greenhouse’s yield is possibly 10-12 times higher than an open-air one relying upon the kind of greenhouse, sort of harvest, and natural control highlights utilized.
Over the long haul, it can deliver sickness-free and hereditarily predominant plants, subsequently lessening the utilization of synthetics and pesticides on plants.
Conclusion
In an age when food production is in danger due to climate change, greenhouses are a promising farming practice. When farmers can control what they grow and the conditions in which they want it to grow, they can benefit commercially from it. There’s a huge array of systems in your greenhouse that must all work together, from climate control, heating and cooling, screens, and growing systems, to irrigation and nutrient management. Planning and installing these systems can be extremely complex. When it comes to food security and economic value, greenhouse technology is the answer – it speeds up and enhances the quality, yield, and availability of local fresh food.
FAQ
A greenhouse farm can be more profitable than an open field operation with higher investment than an open field but also greater return on investment.
On the off chance that you’ve gone through years in your greenhouse farming produce and blossoms, beginning a little greenhouse business is an extraordinary method to transform your pastime into something more commercial. While business greenhouses can be costly and work concentrated, beginning a little greenhouse doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Consider points like microclimate, water availability, solar availability, Routes, workers availability, etc.
In the Summer, the Mini greenhouse can be utilized for secured yields like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and aubergines. As different plants are planted out, the space left can be utilized for local Mediterranean harvests.
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