VERTICAL FARMING AND ITS SCOPE IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN INDIAN CONDITIONS

Abstract

Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops or vegetables in vertically stacked layers or hanging the plant parts e.g. vines on vertical structures which supports upright growth. It often incorporates controlled environment which aims to optimize plant growth, and soilless farming techniques suchas hydroponics, aquaponics and aeroponics. If we go for fully controlled farming in these type of hydroponics system,there needs to appropriate control of humidity, temperature, light and up to some extent diseases and insect pests. Controlling these conditions favors both quality and quantity production per unit area and time of the crop. But in India, most of the farmers are engaged in poly-house cultivation or vertical vegetable farming with locally available material like bamboo structures andiron pipes(covering them with plastic sheets) and different colored light emitting tapes for insect pest prevention.