Ms. Namrata Bhansali will present her APS as per the details below:
Date: 30th September 2024
Time: 1115 - 1215 hrs.
Venue: C-TARA Conference Room No. 1
Title: Developing Bamboo Polyhouse Construction Technology for Marginal Farmers
Guide: Prof. Chaaruchandra Korde
RPC Members: Prof. Siddhartha Ghosh and Prof. Amit Arora
ABSTRACT
As per the Agriculture Census Report 2015-16, 86% of farmers belong to the small and marginal categories, with landholdings of less than 2 hectares in India. Climate change further exacerbates this, with adverse effects on agricultural productivity projected to result in significant yield reductions. The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide adds complexity to the issue, demanding immediate adaptation measures. According to the State of Rural and Agrarian India Report 2020, between 1951 and 2011, India’s population relying on agriculture for livelihood decreased from 70% to 48%. Between 2001 and 2011, farmers declined by 8.5 million, while farm laborers increased by 37.5 million. The NABARD Financial Inclusion Survey reveals that the average monthly earnings of an agricultural household in 2016-17 were Rs. 8,931, with only 35% of this from cultivation.
Marginal farmers face significant challenges due to small landholdings, low income, and climate change, impacting their agricultural productivity. A protected cultivation system, ensuring year-round crop production, can be a potential solution. Bamboo Polyhouse Construction Technology addresses these issues by providing year-round crop yields and additional income through surplus production. The concept is based on protected cultivation principles, utilizing locally available bamboo as a construction material. This reduces environmental impact and minimizes construction costs compared to galvanized iron structures, especially for small landholdings. However, polyhouses are exposed to adverse climatic conditions, and structural integrity is a challenge, compounded by the lack of polyhouse design standards.
This research aims to develop Bamboo Polyhouse Construction Technology by conducting material investigations on locally available bamboo, structural investigations, and field demonstrations. The goal is to establish standardized design guidelines and material specifications, considering the inherent variability in bamboo properties. By enhancing agricultural resilience and productivity, this technology can uplift marginal farmers' livelihoods. Current progress includes finalizing test protocols, sample testing plans, field dissemination of polyhouses at three locations, and structural analysis of the bamboo polyhouse frame.