Page 30 - Plastics News January 2017
P. 30
FEATURES 10
INDIA 2017
International Plastics Exhibition & Conference
Where the future of plastic is...
JAN 2017
19 20 21 22 23 MUMBAI. INDIA
IV Controlled environment agriculture: • Helps to enhance shelf-life of the produces
• Greenhouses • Better visibility of the produce
• Shade net houses Mr Iyengar stresses the need to create the awareness not
• Low tunnels only among the framers but also across the processors.
• Plant Protection nets There is a huge opportunity that remains to be tapped.
V Innovative Packaging: Plasticulture or the use of Plastics in agriculture would
• Plastics crates, bins, boxes, leno bags, unit definitely be a boon the industry. To support his argument
Iyengar says, “Let’s say what happens when one opts
packaging products etc for Mulching. First it saves water, which further helps
• C A P C o v e r s , C o n t r o l l e d A t m o s p h e r i c in retaining the moisture of the soil as there is no
evaporation. Second as the surface is covered there
Packaging(CAP) & Modified Atmospheric is no weeding; this in turn increases the yield. Third,
• Packaging (MAP) the fertility of the soil is also retained. This is just one
Advantages of plastic in Agriculture example.. there are many more.”
The unique advantages of plastic over conventional
materials are: On the recommendation of NCPAH, the Government has
• Higher strength/weight ratio also established 22 Precision Farming Development Centres
• Superior thermal insulation properties (PFDCs) all over the country to promote research and
• Excellent corrosion resistance extension activities in promotion of these applications.
• Superior flexibility The NCPAH also provide subsidy for opting plasticulture.
• Resistance to most of the chemicals Iyengar maintains that the need of hour is looking for
• Excellent moisture barrier properties effective irrigation system to increase per hectare
• Favourable gas permeability. productivity in different crops by saving water for the
• Smooth surface – resulting in reduction in friction water level is shrinking by 1 meter every year.
Plasticulture applications are one of the most useful
losses indirect agricultural inputs which hold the promise to
• Excellent light transmissibility transform Indian agriculture and bring in the "Second
Green Revolution"
• January 2017 • Plastics News 30
