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ICAR-IIHR encourages soilless culture for vegetables and fruits to offset water scarcity.
Oct 26, 2023

ICAR-IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticulture Research) sees immense opportunity in the Cocoponics/Soilless culture – A new method of growing vegetables and medicinal herbs in terrace/ rooftop/ vertical gardening. This is because soilless system techniques have been integrated into horticultural production, maximising the efficiency in the use of water and nutrients.

In an age of climate change and environment degradation, soilless cultivation is gaining ground because of increasing scarcity of arable land and the increase in extreme weather conditions has led to a large proportion of crops, especially vegetables, being cultivated in protected soilless cultivation methods to provide people with sufficient and high-quality food.

The BESST-HORT (Business Entrepreneurship and Start-up Support through Technology in Horticulture) comprehends that soilless cultivation is a modern cultivation system of plants that uses either inert organic or inorganic growing substrates, mostly in combination with nutrient solution to supply nutrients to plants.

In this regard, it is organising a one day hands on training program on 'Cocoponics/Soilless culture – A new method of growing vegetables and medicinal herbs in terrace/ rooftop/ vertical gardening' on October 27, 2023 at the ICAR-IIHR, Hesaraghatta Lake, Bengaluru. The programme according to the organisers includes theory, practical demonstration & discussion. The course director is Dr Kalaivanam. The course co-directors are Dr G Selvakumar, Dr MR Rohini, Dr Priti Sonavane. The course coordinator is Dr MV Dhananjaya and the BESST-HORT team.

The objective is to impart training on soilless culture, is because this innovative approach has gained popularity in recent years, especially for growing vegetables and medicinal herbs on terraces and in other limited-space environments.

According to IIHR, soilless culture has found a place in urban and peri-urban areas of India, where limited space and soil quality issues are common. Indian farmers and gardeners use soilless culture to grow a wide range of crops, including vegetables, medicinal herbs, and even exotic plants. This method allows for the year-round cultivation of crops that may not thrive in certain climatic conditions.

Further, soilless culture techniques are seen as more water-efficient compared to traditional soil-based agriculture, a critical factor in a country like India, which faces water scarcity issues in many regions.

Research institutions, agricultural universities, and government initiatives have been promoting soilless culture methods and providing training to farmers and enthusiasts. This helps disseminate knowledge and expertise about these innovative growing techniques. Also commercial soilless culture farms and greenhouses have been established in various parts of India, producing high-value crops and aiding the growth of the economy. In addition, the use of soilless culture in India has also opened up opportunities for the export of fresh produce and medicinal herbs, as it allows for the production of high-quality, disease-free crops.

Despite the potential benefits, soilless culture faces challenges in terms of initial investment, energy costs, and the need for specialised knowledge. However, with time, more cost-effective and sustainable approaches are being developed to address these challenges. However, the adoption of soilless culture in India varies from region to region, but is popular among progressive farmers. As technology and expertise continue to evolve, it's likely that soilless culture will play an increasingly important role in India's agriculture and horticulture sectors, said the experts.

fnbnews.com

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