Principles of Protected Farming

• Protected farming refers to the cultivation of crops under modified environmental conditions, such as greenhouses, net houses, polyhouses, tunnels, or hydroponic structures, to ensure favorable growth, higher yield, and quality produce.
• The principles of protected farming is discussed below:

a. Principle of Environmental Modification

• Control of temperature, humidity, light, and air circulation to create optimum growing conditions.
• Use of shading, ventilation, misting, and heating systems as per crop requirements.
• Reduction of stress caused by extreme climate, rainfall, wind, frost, or drought.

b. Principle of Resource Use Efficiency

• Efficient use of inputs like water, fertilizers, energy, and land.
• Adoption of micro-irrigation systems (drip, sprinkler, fertigation).
• Higher productivity per unit area compared to open-field farming.

c. Principle of Crop and Variety Selection

• Selection of crops suited for protected conditions, e.g., tomato, cucumber, capsicum, lettuce, strawberry, flowers like rose and carnation.
• Preference for high-yielding, disease-resistant, and high-value crops.
• Seasonal flexibility, such as off-season vegetable production.

d. Principle of Crop Health Management

• Use of integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) with minimum chemical load.
• Adoption of biological control agents and sticky traps.
• Sanitation and hygiene of greenhouse structures to avoid infestation.

e. Principle of Economic Viability

• Protected farming should be cost-effective and ensure higher returns per unit area.
• Requires careful planning of market demand, price trends, and profitability.
• Small and medium farmers encouraged to adopt low-cost structures.

f. Principle of Sustainability

• Conservation of natural resources and reduction of environmental impact.
• Use of renewable energy sources like solar energy for heating or lighting.
• Reduction in chemical pesticides through organic and bio-control methods.

g. Principle of Precision Farming Integration

• Use of sensors, automation, and ICT tools for monitoring climate and soil conditions.
• Application of precision irrigation and fertigation techniques.
• Data-driven decision-making for maximizing productivity.

h. Principle of Market Orientation

• Protected farming must be demand-driven.
• Production planning should be aligned with export quality standards, supermarkets, and processing industries.
• Focus on producing uniform, high-quality produce.