Gurugram: South African visitors apprised of polyhouse farming benefits by Horticulture Department

Gurugram, July 25

A delegation from South Africa visited a poly greenhouse set up on the premises of the Horticulture Department here on Wednesday to study advanced techniques of horticultural practices.

The visit was organised under the India Millet Mission jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Department of Horticulture. The Deputy Director of Horticulture Department, Deepak Kumar, said the delegation from South Africa was represented by Professor Vivian Ojang. The delegation obtained information about saplings of various crops being prepared by farmers under subsidy in the poly greenhouses. Kumar said the Horticulture Department prepared and provided high-quality soilless saplings to farmers on subsidy. He informed the delegation that the farmers were charged Rs 1.20 per sapling for vine vegetables and Rs 1.40 for other vegetable crops.

The main advantage of the saplings is that they have less chance of getting infected with diseases and start giving good produce in time. “Getting saplings prepared in polyhouses not only saves the time of farmers but also saves them from the financial loss caused due to change in weather,” said Kumar.

Nursery expert Dr Neeru said due to the high-quality saplings prepared in the nursery, farmers saved money on medicines and sprays. At the same time, by getting the seeds prepared in the nurseries, farmers needed fewer seeds, she added. Kumar told the delegation that the department provided information about techniques of advanced farming to farmers from time to time, which in turn benefitted them.