AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS &

THEIR USAGE

Mrs. Manisha A. Hira

Scientist C

SASMIRA, Mumbai

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Indian Agricultural scenario• Increasing population.

• Industrialisation & Urbanisation

• The population dependent on agriculture has increased from 270 million to 670 million

• Per capita availability of cultivable land has dropped from 0.36 hectare to 0.13 hectare

• The contribution of agriculture to India’s GDP has reduced from 39% to 22% during 1974 – 2004.

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Pertinent Problems• Population is expected to touch 1.33 billion in the year 2020 and

the demand for food grain is going to be around 280 million tonnes

• Diminishing arable area and water.• Global warming

• Sunlight – direct and indirect• Water• Climatic Conditions including wind, hail, humidity• External factors like birds, insects, weeds• Post Harvest handling of produce – storage and packaging

• In India, presently Agricultural Activities are carried out under Natural Conditions of Temperature and Humidity

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FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

• Yield percentage is unsatisfactory

• Quality of produce is marred

• Damages to the produce

• Regional limitation on cultivation

• Seasonal limitation on cultivation

THE ABOVE FACTORS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED

USING AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS

CONSEQUENCES OF ABSENCE OF CONTROL FACTORS

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WHAT IS AGROTEXTILE

• Special textiles that are manufactured for agricultural applications

• These textile structures are used as controlling environment for plants / animals in applications like– Agriculture– Horticulture – Animal husbandry

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Agrotextile products

• Sunscreen net• Wind shield nets• Bird nets• Crop covers• Harvesting nets• Insect nets• Mulch mat • Anti-hailstone nets

• Packing sacks and wrappers

• Fishing nets• Cut grass collection

bags• Underlay fabrics• Udder support nets

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Protective Agrotextiles

• Shade nets• Bird protection nets• Anti – hail nets• Wind breaking nets• Harvesting nets• Insect nets• Ground covers• Crop covers

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Product Details• Bird Protection Net

– Polyolefin monofilament / Tape yarns– Warp knitted– 2 – 3 cm mesh size– 40 – 80 g/sq.m.

• Shading net– Polyethylene Tape yarns– Warp knitted, mesh size as per the required shading % – 60 – 90 g/sq.m. – Woven structures of lighter weight are also used

• Windshield fabrics– Polypropylene monofilament / Tape yarns– Warp knitted, mesh size as per the required wind blocking %, 40 – 90

g/sq.m. – Woven structures of lighter weight are also used

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Agrotextile Product Details, contd..

• Plant nets– Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape

yarns– Warp knitted– Strips of nets with large opening, 30 -40 g/sq.m

• Harvesting nets– Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape

yarns– Warp knitted– Flat nets of square or triangular construction, of mesh

size 8 – 12 mm– 40 – 90 g/sq.m– Woven structures of lighter weight are also used

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Agrotextile Product Details, contd..

• Ground Covers– Polypropylene, spunbonded– 100 g/sq.m and above– Woven/Nonwoven biodegradable structures

of jute and coir are also used

Packing Material– Polyethylene Tape yarn– Warp knitted, 50 – 60 g/sq.m– Woven jute sacks are also used

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Fibres used in Agrotextile products

• Nylon

• Polyester

• Polyethylene

• Polypropylene

• Jute

• Wool

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AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE

PRODUCT APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE ANIMAL HUSBAN-

DARY

FISHING

CROP PRODUCE

FLORICUL - TURE

HORTICUL- TURE

POST HARVESTING

KNITTED NETS

SHADING

BIRD PROTECTION

WIND SHIELDS

ANI-HAIL

HARVESTING

FISHING

MILCHING

PACKAGING

SUPPORT NETS

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AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTUREContd…

PRODUCT APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE ANIMAL HUSBAN-

DARY

FISHING

CROP PRODUCE

FLORICUL - TURE

HORTICUL- TURE

POST HARVESTING

NONWOVEN FABRICS MULCHMAT CATTLE SHED

UNDERLAY

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

WOVEN FABRICS PACKING SACKS

SUNCREENS

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

PLASTIC SHEETS

GROUND COVERS

GREENHOUSE FILMS

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Red Mulch for TomatoSASMIRA

Strawberry crop on Mulched Beds

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SolarizationSASMIRA

Lining of pondsSASMIRA

Low TunnelsSASMIRA

Off-season Vegetable Cultivation in Greenhouses

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HORTI-POTS

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MARKET SCENARIO

Global Consumption of Agro-tech Products in 000 tonnes

1,615

1,958 1,381

2000 2005 2010

Indian market is expected to increase from Rs. 510 crores in 2007 to Rs. 742 crores by

2012

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Identified and forecast by DRA report ,World Market forecast, 2010.

Region-wise Global Consumption of Agrotextiles

S.No. Regions Volume of consumption CAGR%

2005 2010 2000-2005 2005-2010

1 North America 150 152 -0.2 0.3

2 USA 135 137 -0.2 0.3

3 South AmericaBrazil

11744

14253

2.32.5

4.04.0

5 Western Europe 250 261 0.3 0.9

10 Eastern Europe 72 93 4.7 5.1

11 Middle East 51 63 2.6 4.1

12 Central Asia 14 16 2.6 3.7

13 South AsiaIndia

195154

269215

5.96.2

6.76.9

15 North East AsiaChina

504389

630509

4.86.2

4.65.5

18 South East Asia 158 205 4.7 5.4

19 Africa 93 110 2.3 3.5

20 Oceania 13 16 3.1 4.1

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Identified and forecast by DRA report, World Market forecast, 2010.

Summary of the market-sizing for Agrotech

Source : ICRA Management Services Report on Baseline Study Summary

2007 -08 2012-13

Product Production Import Export Domesticconsumption

Domesticconsumption

Shade-nets Quantity 5,000 MT - 2,200 MT 2,800 MT 3,747 MT

Value Rs 45.5 crore - Rs 17.5 crore Rs 28 crore Rs 37.5 crore

Greenhouse films

Quantity 700 MT 900 MT - 1900 MT 2736 MT

Value 7.8 crore 15 crore - 22.8 crore 32.8 crore

Mulch-mats Quantity 1,050 MT - 115 MT 900 MT 7,000 MT

Value 14.1 crore - 1.5 crore 12.6 crore 98 crore

Crop-covers Quantity 1000 MT - 1000 MT

Value 10 crore - 10 crore

Others Value 472 crore 11.6 crore 37.5 crore 446.1 crore 573.75 crore

TOTAL Quantity 24,868 MT 1,875 MT 5,665 MT 21,078 MT 33,390 MT

Value Rs 549 crore Rs 27 crore Rs 67 crore Rs 510 crore Rs 742 crore

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Low cost – Vegetable

High cost - Floriculture

TYPES OF GREEN HOUSE

Medium cost tunnel – Spices

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2.0 m2.5 m

10 m

5 m

2.0 m3 m

10 m

5 m

GREEN HOUSES

LOW COSTBamboo, Jute Cloth/UV Stabilised Plastic Film, shade nets

Natural control on temp.& humidity

100 – 125

MEDIUM COSTPVC Pipes, UV Stabilised Plastic Film/ Shade net, Plastic Wires

Air circulating fans to control temp. & humidity

450 – 500

HIGH COSTMetallic frame, UV Stabilised Plastic Film/ nets, plastic wires

Systems to control and regulate temp. & humidity

1500 - 2000

TYPE

MATERIAL

FEATURES

COST (Rs./sq.m)

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ADVANTAGES OF GREEN HOUSE USAGE FOR DIFFERENT CROPS

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S.N.

CROP TYPE OF GREEN HOUSE

INCREASED YIELD %

INCREASED INCOME %

1 Leafy Vegetables

Low cost 50 60

2 Flowers Medium Cost 56 91

3 Tomato Low Cost 159 91

4 Capsicum Medium cost 210 110

5 Other Vegetables

Low costMedium Cost

185290

15090

MULCHES• Substrates used in proximity to soil to help conservation

of soil moisture and the moderation of soil temperature irrespective of climatic conditions

• Materials used for mulching– Black Plastic Film (BPM)– Nonwoven fabrics

BPM in marigold 7-micron plastic in bitter gourd

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BENEFITS OF MULCHING

• Moisture conservation• Maintenance of soil structure• Soil borne pathogens control

ECONOMICS OF MULCHES

• Better fertilizer use• Increase in yield• Weed control

S.N.

Crop Mulch Material

Water Saving

%

Increase in yield %

Additional income

(‘000 Rs./ha)

Remarks

1 Banana Black plastic mulch 100 µ

35 18 10 90 % weed control90 % coverage

2 Brinjal Black plastic mulch 50 µ

NA 44 5.0 Rainfed cropApplied after 15 days of cessation of monsoon

3 Chillies Black plastic mulch 50 µ

20 29 30.0 1 irrigation can be saved

5 Cotton Black plastic mulch 50 µ

NA 93 40.5 Rainfed crop

6 Tomato Black plastic mulch 50 µ

44 53 14.2 98 % weed control

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Nonwoven mulches vis-à-vis Mulch films

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Conventional Mulch films• Using HDPE sheets, prevent weed growth• However, do not provide controlled microclimate for

crop growthNonwoven mulches like • Spunbond polypropylene nonwovens• Multilayer construction of mulchmats consisting of

Needle punched Nonwoven, Support scrim and Monoporous laminate

• Advantages o Controlled soil microclimate o Appropriate soil and water managemento Prevent weed growth

Textile Mulches(Nonwoven & Woven)

Property Sample 1(NW

Needle Punch)

Sample 2(NW Spun Bonded)

Sample 3(NW Spun Bonded)

Sample 4(Woven)

Polymer Jute PP PP PP

GSM 1241 124.4 109.9 100

Thickness (mm) 7.86 0.55 0.53 1.0

Tensile Strength(Kgf)

14.4 x 10.1 19.1 12.3 18.2 x 8.9 113 x 70

Tear strength (kgf) - 16.5 x 8.8 17.4 x 6 28 x 19.2

Water Permeability(lt/sq-m/sec)

42.6 16.3 36.8 39

Water vapour permeability g/sq.m./day

504 1041.7 1037.5 742

Loss in strength after 500 hours UV exposure

42 % 38 % 30 % 8 %

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HDPE Film MulchesS.No. Property Sample 1 Sample 2

1 Thickness µ 16 50

2 Tensile Strength(Kg/cm2)

Direction-I 190.00 267.00

Direction-II 137.00 200.00

3 Tear Strength(lbs)

Direction-I 0.30 1.90

Direction-II 0.80 2.30

4 Water vapour permeability g/sq.m/day

11.3 9.6

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Benefits of Usage of Protective Agrotextiles

• Controlled cultivation of crops w.r.t. natural variants like sunlight, rainfall, humidity, soil moisture, etc.

• Protection from attack of birds, insects and other pests.

• Prevention of weed growth.

• Reduction in harvesting and post harvesting losses.

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IMPEDIMENTS TO MARKETING OF AGROTEXTILES

• Lack of awareness amongst the agriculturist

• Lack of proper guidance on usage of Agrotextile products

• The attitude of being bandwagons

• Unorganized structure of cultivation

• Absence of norms on Price and Quality of Agrotextile products

• Absence of Government regulations

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STEPS TO PROMOTE USAGE AGROTEXTILES IN THE COUNTRY

Organising Programmes for Promotion and Awareness of Agrotextiles in the country

Creating demonstration farms Availability of cost benefit analysis on usage of

Protective Agrotextiles for various crops Laying down Quality norms for the Agrotextile

products being used by the cultivators Proposing Government Regulations

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“To become a world class leading service driven

national center for technical textile with international

accreditation to serve the industry in general and

agriculture sector in particular”

OUR VISION

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE AGROTEXTILES

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MISSIONCOE AGROTEXTILE

• Creating awareness regarding agrotextiles products amongst agriculturists

• To assist the industry for entrepreneurship in the field of agrotextiles

• To provide training to the potential agrotextile manufacturers and users.

• To create state-of-the-art testing and certification facilities for agrotextile products

• To achieve self –reliance for the Centre of Excellence• To develop and indigenise cost-effective agrotextile products• To help the agricultural sector mainly to attain

•Increased productivity by protection of crops•Early harvesting •Improved means of controlled irrigation•Conservation of natural resources

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STATE – OF –THE-ARTFACILITIES AT COE AGROTEXTILES

• Demonstration Pilot Plant facilities

• Accredited Testing facilities

• Information center for Agrotextiles

• Training Center for Agrotextiles

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Concluding Remarks • Protective Agrotextiles like shade nets, harvesting

nets, ground covers, etc are beneficial for cultivation.• It is required is we popularise these products to the

masses through media, awareness programmes, demonstration centres, and Government regulations.

• There is a strong need to strengthen the research on horticultural crops and to develop demand-driven technology by improved variety, pest management, etc., in both public and private sectors.

• These technologies should be quickly disseminated to the farmers and help them to upgrade their technical abilities.

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• A small targeted group of talented stakeholders and small entrepreneurs should be identified and assisted in obtaining access to funding, technical assistance and supply chain partners.

• This small group should be actively encouraged to develop business plans and feasibility studies.

• Also, the Centre of Excellence is working towards evaluation, standardisation of Agrotextile products.

• What is required is industry – academia working together with the cultivators with support from the Government.

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