AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS

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AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS THEIR USAGE
SASMIRA

• Mrs. Manisha A. Hira
• Scientist C
• SASMIRA, Mumbai

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Indian Agricultural scenario
SASMIRA

• 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 Indias GDP
  has reduced from 39 to 22 during 1974 2004.

• 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

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SASMIRA
FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

• 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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SASMIRA
CONSEQUENCES OF ABSENCE OF CONTROL FACTORS

• 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
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WHAT IS AGROTEXTILE
SASMIRA

• 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
SASMIRA

• 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
SASMIRA

• 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
SASMIRA

• 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..
SASMIRA

• 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..
SASMIRA

• 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
SASMIRA

• Nylon
• Polyester
• Polyethylene
• Polypropylene
• Jute
• Wool

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SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN
AGRICULTURE
PRODUCT APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY FISHING
CROP PRODUCE FLORICUL - TURE HORTICUL- TURE POST HARVESTING POST HARVESTING ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY FISHING
KNITTED NETS KNITTED NETS KNITTED NETS KNITTED NETS KNITTED NETS KNITTED NETS KNITTED NETS KNITTED NETS
SHADING ? ? ?
BIRD PROTECTION ? ? ?
WIND SHIELDS ? ?
ANI-HAIL ? ?
HARVESTING ?
FISHING ?
MILCHING ? ?
PACKAGING ? ?
SUPPORT NETS ? ? ?
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SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN
AGRICULTURE Contd
PRODUCT APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY FISHING
CROP PRODUCE FLORICUL - TURE HORTICUL- TURE POST HARVESTING ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY FISHING
NONWOVEN FABRICS NONWOVEN FABRICS NONWOVEN FABRICS NONWOVEN FABRICS NONWOVEN FABRICS NONWOVEN FABRICS NONWOVEN FABRICS
MULCHMAT ? ? ?
CATTLE SHED UNDERLAY ?
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ? ? ? ? ?
WOVEN FABRICS WOVEN FABRICS WOVEN FABRICS WOVEN FABRICS WOVEN FABRICS WOVEN FABRICS WOVEN FABRICS
PACKING SACKS ?
SUNCREENS ? ? ?
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ? ? ? ? ?
PLASTIC SHEETS PLASTIC SHEETS PLASTIC SHEETS PLASTIC SHEETS PLASTIC SHEETS PLASTIC SHEETS PLASTIC SHEETS
GROUND COVERS ? ? ? ? ?
GREENHOUSE FILMS ? ?
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Red Mulch for Tomato
SASMIRA
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Strawberry crop on Mulched Beds
SASMIRA
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Solarization
SASMIRA
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Lining of ponds
SASMIRA
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Low Tunnels
SASMIRA
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Off-season Vegetable Cultivation in Greenhouses
SASMIRA
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HORTI-POTS
SASMIRA
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MARKET SCENARIO
SASMIRA

2000
2005
2010
Identified and forecast by DRA report ,World
Market forecast, 2010.

Indian market is expected to increase from Rs.
510 crores in 2007 to Rs. 742 crores by 2012
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Region-wise Global Consumption of Agrotextiles
SASMIRA
S.No. Regions Volume of consumption Volume of consumption CAGR CAGR
S.No. Regions 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 America Brazil 117 44 142 53 2.3 2.5 4.0 4.0
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 Asia India 195 154 269 215 5.9 6.2 6.7 6.9
15 North East Asia China 504 389 630 509 4.8 6.2 4.6 5.5
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
Identified and forecast by DRA report, World
Market forecast, 2010.
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SASMIRA
Summary of the market-sizing for Agrotech
2007 -08 2007 -08 2007 -08 2007 -08 2012-13
Product Production Import Export Domestic consumption Domestic consumption
Shade-nets Quantity 5,000 MT - 2,200 MT 2,800 MT 3,747 MT
Shade-nets 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
Source ICRA Management Services Report on
Baseline Study Summary
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TYPES OF GREEN HOUSE
SASMIRA
Low cost Vegetable
Medium cost tunnel Spices
High cost - Floriculture
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GREEN HOUSES
SASMIRA
LOW COST Bamboo, Jute Cloth/UV Stabilised Plastic
Film, shade nets Natural control on temp.
humidity 100 125
MEDIUM COST PVC Pipes, UV Stabilised Plastic
Film/ Shade net, Plastic Wires Air circulating
fans to control temp. humidity 450 500
HIGH COST Metallic 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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SASMIRA
ADVANTAGES OF GREEN HOUSE USAGE FOR DIFFERENT
CROPS
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 cost Medium Cost 185 290 150 90
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MULCHES
SASMIRA

• 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
SASMIRA

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

• Better fertilizer use
• Increase in yield
• Weed control

ECONOMICS OF MULCHES
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 control 90 coverage
2 Brinjal Black plastic mulch 50 µ NA 44 5.0 Rainfed crop Applied 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
SASMIRA

• Conventional Mulch films
• Using HDPE sheets, prevent weed growth
• However, do not provide controlled microclimate
  for crop growth
• Nonwoven mulches like
• Spunbond polypropylene nonwovens
• Multilayer construction of mulchmats consisting
  of Needle punched Nonwoven, Support scrim and
  Monoporous laminate
• Advantages
• Controlled soil microclimate
• Appropriate soil and water management
• Prevent weed growth

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Textile Mulches(Nonwoven Woven)
SASMIRA
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 Mulches
SASMIRA
S.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
SASMIRA

• 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
SASMIRA

• 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
SASMIRA

• 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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SASMIRA
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE AGROTEXTILES
OUR VISION
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
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SASMIRA
MISSION COE 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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SASMIRA
STATE OF THE-ART FACILITIES AT COE AGROTEXTILES

• Demonstration Pilot Plant facilities
• Accredited Testing facilities
• Information center for Agrotextiles
• Training Center for Agrotextiles

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SASMIRA

• 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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SASMIRA

• 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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SASMIRA
SASMIRA
THANK YOU