60 hill families to start polyhouse farming

Binita Paul, TT, Siliguri, 12 August 2023 : The state government and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) have taken up the task to encourage polyhouse farming among fanners across the hills.

Polyhouse farming will allow farmers to raise various crops, vegetables and fruits around the year without getting affected by the vagaries of weather.

Last week, the state horticulture department and the GTA handed over materials required for polyhouse farming to 60 families in Kalimpong district.

"The materials for making polyhouses were handed over to farmers at a function in the Bhalukhop area of Kalimpong. We want the hill farmers to earn more by cultivating crops around the year," said Polyhouse farming , the subdivisional horticulture officer of Kalimpong district.

In the hills, a considerable part of the population is into farming. However, owing to a number of reasons, including inclement weather and extreme temperatures in winter, the income of most of these farmers is quite low.

"One of the reasons is the heavy monsoonal rainfall which damages the crops. Also, in winter, the severity of the cold harms the yield of certain crops. That is why, we are encouraging polyhouse farming," said S.P. Sharma, the public relations officer of the GTA.

Experts said that poly-house cultivation is one of the modern methods where farming is done in a controlled environment.

"Crops are grown under a controlled environment where temperature and humidity are maintained and fertilisers are applied in a systematic manner. Many farmers across the world are veering towards polyhouse cultivation because of profitability. One can grow crops throughout the year without depending on environmental factors. Also, problems such as pest attacks and diseases that frequently impact plants can be avoided," said an agricultural expert.

Sharma said that the state horticulture department in Kalimpong provided farmers interested in polyhouse cultivation the necessary equipment needed to get started.

"Farmers have been given necessary equipment to build polyhouses, including a trellis, water pipes, fan, water supply infrastructure, trays and some other things. In all, items worth Rs 3 lakh have been handed over to each farmer," said Sharma.

Debnath said that they hoped that this new venture would result in better earnings for farmers and encourage others by example.

"We will continue to identify farmers interested in adopting this method of farming. The state will extend all necessary help to them," said