Vegetables in the state could be soon seen growing up without soil as the agriculture department is planning to cultivate a few vegetables including tomato and cucumber with the use of hydroponics technique. A project for the purpose will be started with the help of Australian experts, for which recently an Australian delegation visited the government’s centre of excellence at Bassi in Jaipur to study the prospects of introducing the technique in the state.
Department is claiming that it will help increase the yield and farmer’s income manifold.
“Hydroponics is a technique to grow plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent,” Prabu Lal Saini, the state agriculture minister told DNA. “The technique would be used in the cultivation of cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, cucumber and coloured capsicum. The farming of these vegetables will be done in 1 acre area in Bassi. With the use of the technique the yields would be increased manifold,” he added.
To increase the yield, the crop will be cultivated vertically so that more plants could be accommodated. “Normally, yield per plant of tomato in three months is around half a kg. It increases to 5-6 kg per plant in six months when grown in poly house. But through the hydroponics technique, the yield per plant will increase to around 65-70kg per plant in 10 months. In the same way, yield of coloured capsicum and cucumber would increase to 24 kg per plant in six month which is around 4kg per plant,” said Saini.
The three-member delegation, including South Australian government’s investment manager (Indian trade) Rahul Ranjan and Australian firm Ironwood’s chief consultant Mark Cody, studied the site and infrastructure at the centre. “Soon, the Australian government will send a formal proposal for sharing the technique with Rajasthan, after which the work will start,” Saini said.
For the two-year project starting from June, the agriculture department has sanctioned Rs 13 crore and a committee has been formed to speed up the project. Rajasthan Olive Cultivation Limited (ROCL) will supervise the project.
Help to farmers
- Department is claiming that it will help increase the yield and farmer’s income manifold.
- “Hydroponics is a technique to grow plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent,” Prabu Lal Saini, said.
