Organic Greenhouse Farming – Cultivation In India

Introduction to Organic Greenhouse Farming in India

Organic greenhouse production offers producers complete control over their crops. The greenhouse provides an environment that is conducive to organic management and provides a structure that facilitates traceability. Agriculture is the backbone of India’s economic activity and our experience during the last 50 years has demonstrated the strong correlation between agricultural development and economic prosperity. Greenhouse production provides crops with a controlled and favorable environment to grow in all seasons. In recent years, organic greenhouse farming as a cultivation process is gaining increasing popularity.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Organic Greenhouse Farming In India

Organically grown crops are part of going green lifestyle. The main principles and practices of organic production are to inspire and enhance biological cycles in the farming system, keep and enhance deep-rooted soil fertility, reduce all types of pollution, avoid the application of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, conserve genetic diversity in food, and also produce high-quality food in sufficient quantity. People are turning away from food products grown with fertilizers and other chemicals towards organically grown crops.

Greenhouse structure facilitating controlled cultivation crops, the structure must allow light penetration and maximum coverage. Therefore, they are semi-circular shaped structures made of transparent materials like glass, polyethylene, and other transparent materials. Apart from controlling temperature other objectives of organic greenhouse farming are maintaining the right carbon dioxide levels, humidity, and water, controlling pests, and providing plant nutrients. Greenhouse cultivation is based on different parameters like cost, suitability, structure type, and environmental control.

How to Start Organic Greenhouse Farming In India

Organic greenhouse production, to reduce the risk of fungal diseases, and requires even more accurate climatic management for humidity control, with higher energy consumption to conventional production. The maximization of yields per square meter and the need for rapid economic returns for the high investment costs in greenhouse structure are very important aspects to be taken for assessing the economic sustainability of organic greenhouse farming but are responsible for unexpected side effects.

Greenhouse technology is the method of providing favorable environmental conditions to the crops. The greenhouse structure is used to protect the crops from adverse climatic conditions like wind, cold, extreme temperature, insects, and diseases. Also, it is important to create an ideal microclimate around the plants.

Farmers are not any more interested in traditional farming as they suffer from financial insecurity in the present time. The reason is that the climate is changed and they do not have the opportunity to grow food in a fixed time. In India, about 90% of farmers are engaged in traditional farming and they have to suffer a lot of problems in their life. It is good to hear that till today, 20 to 25% of people in India have taken the initiative to do greenhouse farming in India as the greenhouse manufacturers.  

In India, we import several fruits, vegetables, and flowers from other countries and pay them very good money. If we grow these crops in our country with the help of modern methods, we can earn an outstanding amount of money, so greenhouse farming will improve the living standard of our Indian farmers.

To start an organic greenhouse farm business first to find about the business to have a better understanding of how things work. Running a small farm is different from running a bigger organic farm. Therefore, you need to understand the extra input required to farm organically on a commercial scale.

Ideal Location and Temperature in Organic Greenhouse Farming in India

The ideal location for the set-up greenhouse has high winter light intensity, moderate winter temperature levels, and easy access to markets. The easy availability of existing services will help reduce establishment costs and will affect ongoing fuel costs. Make sure to avoid buildings or trees that can shade the greenhouse set-up, although windbreaks will help reduce heating costs if properly located. Highways have made transporting greenhouse-grown crops easier, locating greenhouse-grown vegetable plants near large population areas is still important.

Greenhouses using native soil or a potted production system for vegetable farming must be constructed on level sites with deep and well-drained soils. Sandy loams are best and source of good-quality water is also important. High salt concentrations in the soil or water can significantly reduce yields. Regulating air temperature in the greenhouse is very important for both vegetative growth and fruiting. To determine heating requirements, it is necessary to know the minimum temperature requirements for the crop, the lowest outdoor temperature level that might be expected, and the surface area of the greenhouse. Also, heat loss will be affected by wind and site exposure.

Crops for Organic Greenhouse Farming

There are many crops cultivated in greenhouses like flowers, vegetables, herbs, or other plants. Conduct market research to learn what crops are popular in your area. You don’t want to invest your time, energy, and effort in growing produce that nobody in the locality wants to buy.

The people in India importers each year import many fruits, flowers, and vegetables from foreign countries and pay them good money. If people grow all these crops doing greenhouse set up, they can save their own money. Under organic greenhouse farming, fruits like Strawberry, flowers like Dutch Rose, Lily, Orchids, Gypsophila, and healthy vegetable plants like Cucumber, Capsicum, and Tomatoes are to be grown.

Tomato plants are the most common vegetables grown in greenhouses, followed by cucumbers. Both crops are grown in the off-season (fall, winter, and spring) to take advantage of premium prices.

Tomatoes – It is the most common greenhouse crop. Tomatoes can also be quite prolific and, profitable crop. Several Tomato varieties suitable for the greenhouse are cherry, grape, beefsteak, and tomatoes on the vine are available and are popular as a locally sold vegetable.

Lettuce – This hardy vegetable is available in many colors and different varieties, ranging from cut to head lettuce. Lettuce is easy to grow in the greenhouse and is most profitable in local sales directly to the consumer.

Peppers – Grow peppers in a greenhouse is easy and enjoy this colorful crop together with a combination of different shapes and sizes. It will satisfy everyone’s taste from mild to spicy hot. When transplanting into the greenhouse, maintain temperature levels of 23°C days and 21°C nights for the week after transplanting. Pepper plants grow well in nutrient-rich soil with adequate calcium and phosphorus. The ideal soil pH level should be between 6.0 and 7.0. Choose a spot in your greenhouse that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day.

Cucumbers – The versatility of the cucumber plant makes it a popular crop, which makes it profitable for the grower. Though, cucumber plant varieties pose a challenge in keeping them fresh after a harvest. Still, organic and off-season cucumber plants can draw higher prices. Usually, Greenhouse cucumbers grow rapidly under optimum environmental conditions, and fruit production begins about 60 to 70 days after seeding.

Organic Greenhouse Farming
Greenhouse Cucumbers (Pic Source: Pixabay)

Spinach – This is another leafy green vegetable that thrives in a greenhouse environment. Spinach plant tends to grow quickly, depending on growing conditions.

Herbs – Easy to start your growing efforts with, herbs are in demand by grocery stores and restaurants. Some of the most popular herbs for greenhouse cultivation are basil, chives, oregano, cilantro, and parsley.

Strawberries – Strawberries can be another lucrative option for greenhouse growing.

Greenhouse Strawberry Farming
Greenhouse Strawberry Farming (Pic Source: Pixabay)

Preparation of Soil in Organic Greenhouse Farming

The easiest method to get started in greenhouse vegetable production is to use the existing soil on site, but soils should be well-drained. Soils can be improved by applying ample amounts of compost, well-rotted livestock manure, or composted livestock manure. Soil should be sterilized with steam at least 2 weeks before planting. If the soil is steamed, maintain a temperature level of 82°C for at least 4 hours.

Financial Support for Organic Greenhouse Farming in India

It is important to know that for setting up greenhouse farming, the initial investment near about Rs 40 to 60 lakhs is to be needed. But most of the farmers in India are unable to spend this large amount. To solve the financial problem on behalf of farmers, several Indian Banks come forward providing a Horticulture loan. First, to get a loan, farmers need to contact Banks’ authority. Even you can call the phone number taken from a Bank Website online, In that case, you need to go online and search for the name of the Bank. Have full knowledge about the set-up of greenhouse farming and go ahead.

The cost of construction of a greenhouse depends on the location of the site, size and shape of the greenhouse, greenhouse structure, and types of greenhouse. Building your greenhouse offers you even greater flexibility and costs much less than manufactured kits. Although kits are available in several sizes, you can design and build a greenhouse system in any size or shape, using a wider range of materials. Greenhouse construction cost is approximately Rs. 700 to Rs. 1000 per square meter. The construction cost depends on some factors like the quality of the material, size, shape, transport, and structure.

Greenhouses are a great solution for organic producers, giving them complete control over climate, irrigation, organic fertilization, and pests and diseases. Greenhouses offer producers control over biosecurity, organic farming methods, and equipment for a more stable, high-quality production.

Benefits of Organic Greenhouse Farming

  • Protections against diseases in organic crops – Greenhouses give producers the chance to make their growing environment and manage every aspect of production. Greenhouse structure protects crops from a host of pests and diseases, extreme weather conditions, and outdoor pollution.
  • Organic greenhouse producers can’t use traditional chemical pesticides, which can be a challenge when producing some field crops. Greenhouse production provides greater protection against external elements such as pollution, diseases, and pests, allowing the producer to use little to no pesticides.
  • Organic vegetables have far less nitrate content than conventional vegetables.
  • The yield of greenhouse crops maybe 10 to 12 times higher than that of outdoor cultivation. And the crop yield mainly depending upon the type of greenhouse, type of crop, environmental control facilities.
  • It is the reliability of crop increases under greenhouse cultivation.
  • It is ideally suited for vegetables and flower crops.
  • Year-round production of floricultural crops.

Water Treatment in Organic Greenhouse Farming

Organic greenhouse production is designed to respect the environment. First, it relies on organic waste and natural minerals to provide adequate nutrition to crops. Effective and efficient systems can be installed easily in a greenhouse system, which facilitates the supply of nutrients and water recycling all while allowing for improved irrigation management.

Business Plan for Organic Greenhouse Farming

Organic greenhouse farming is a system that excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and growth regulators. Organic farmers rely heavily on crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, organic wastes, legumes, green manures, and mineral-bearing rocks to feed the soil and supply plant nutrients. If the main objectives of organic greenhouse production are the same as conventional greenhouse production that means maximizing the yields of few fruits, vegetables and the agronomic practices adopted are based on substitution of synthetic inputs with allowed organic inputs, the negative consequences of unbalanced systems cannot be avoided. Also, the application to soil of huge quantities of organic amendments derived by the transformation of agricultural wastes can have a negative environmental effect on soil and reduce the level of sustainability of such practice.

Organic farm greenhouse is friendlier to the environment and is more sustainable compared to newer farming methods. Therefore, not only can make huge profits from organic farming, but you will also help protect the environment and the planet as a whole. If you have spent years growing various plants, you can turn your experience into a lucrative business. No formal qualifications are necessary and you can get started even on a small budget. Normally, organic farm greenhouse business was done on small, family-run farms. But since the demand for organically grown foods is now increasing, people are investing in land for organic farming.

Greenhouse plant growers looking to make the switch from conventional to organic farming will need to make adjustments in several areas, containing growing media, fertilizer, pest control, irrigation, and environmental controls. Most primary components can be certified or are authorized for organic production. Even if the growing media appears to be similar to traditional substrates, it has been modified to cater to organic requirements.

When incorporating fertilizer into growing media for organic production, the composition can be variable, and the availability of nutrients is dependent on many factors. Also, it will be difficult to determine true values for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When it comes to coir, traditional production mainly involves buffered coir that is washed and treated with calcium and magnesium to remove the potassium and sodium. In organic farming, the washing of the coir will tend to rob the media of calcium and magnesium. Composting is a critical part of plant nutrition in organic farming.

Important details about the organic farm greenhouse business will go into your business plan. These include your mission and objectives, target market, your competition, and unique selling proposition, management plan, and your financial plan.

A business plan may not necessarily guarantee the success of the organic farm greenhouse business, but it will significantly boost its chances of success. Your organic greenhouse business plan will serve as a step-by-step guide to setting up a greenhouse business successfully and running it effectively. It will help you understand if there’s a market in your locality for organic food products. People find lots of helpful resources online that explain how to write a greenhouse business plan. You can search for free business plan templates that you can modify easily.

In case if you miss this: Hydroponic Farming Tips.

Fertilizers for Orgnaic Greenhouse Farming

The popular organic fertilizers and soil amendments contain animal ingredients like manure, compost, bone meal, blood meal, feather meal, and guano. Livestock manure is a key fertilizer in organic management. The mined minerals that are commonly applied to organic greenhouse operations are rock phosphate, potassium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate. Though the fertilizers are already incorporated, this method limits the control of nutrition as the plants grow, unlike water-soluble fertilizers.

Important specific recommendations on how to use organic fertilizers to grow greenhouse crops;

1. Mixing and application – Fish fertilizer has the thickest solution and should be agitated before mixing with water.

2. Nutrient disorders – Crops may develop an overall light green or yellowed color caused by a general nutrient deficiency or, more likely, just N deficiency. Then, this can be prevented by applying an organic liquid fertilizer supplement about 30 days after planting. Most greenhouse plants do best with a combination of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen.

3. Organic fertilizer in greenhouse crops effects on growth medium soluble salts (EC).

4. Plant species-specific responses – It seems that crops may respond differently to organic fertilizers.

5. Best uses – Bedding plants, herb plants, and vegetable transplants are good candidates for trying organics. Make sure the plants are of good quality and color; reduce using the fertilizer within a week of planned marketing. Then, this practice will reduce the chance of ammonium toxicity symptoms.

Pest Control Tips for Organic Greenhouse Farming

When growing crops using organic systems prevention is better than cure, the organic gardener strives for harmony.  The main aim is to make the greenhouse the perfect growing environment for the plants inside. The organic gardener will utilize nature in the greenhouse to optimize ideal growing conditions for healthy crops.

Companion Planting – The simplest way of pest management for the greenhouse is companion planting. Many plants repel insects and pests. Therefore, if you have something that you want to grow and know that it attracts certain pests; a simple solution is to grow a plant alongside it that repels the particular pest.  Grow Lemongrass to deter fruit flies or Lavender to deter greenflies are the main example.

Neem Oil – Neem Oil is from the Neem tree and quick action is needed to spray the insects as soon as they are seen in the greenhouse system.  The neem oil works by suffocating the insect.  Neem does work as an insect deterrent. Insects do not lay their eggs where the neem oil has been sprayed.  So a repellent spray to plants near doors and openings can be all that is required.

Nematodes – Nematodes are specially bred predators targeted at specific pests in the greenhouse and can be ordered for fast delivery when a problem is discovered.  The nematodes are stirred into water and apply to the soil where they will destroy the insects or slugs. 

Organic Slug and Snail Pellets/Eggshells – Slugs and snails are a problem if they find their way into the greenhouse. As well as Nematodes there are some organic pellets obtainable, take care that you are buying organic pellets and that they will not affect other life forms. Putting a ring of crushed eggshell around plants works well as a top barrier, but slugs will burrow underneath to reach the plants.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here