1. AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS & THEIR USAGE
SASMIRA
AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS & THEIR USAGE
Mrs. Manisha A. Hira
Scientist C
SASMIRA, Mumbai

2. Indian Agricultural scenario
SASMIRA
Indian Agricultural scenario
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 India’s 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

3. FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
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

4. CONSEQUENCES OF ABSENCE OF
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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

5. SASMIRA
WHAT IS AGROTEXTILE
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

6. Agrotextile products Sunscreen net Wind shield nets Bird nets
SASMIRA
Agrotextile products
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

7. Protective Agrotextiles
SASMIRA
Protective Agrotextiles
Shade nets
Bird protection nets
Anti – hail nets
Wind breaking nets
Harvesting nets
Insect nets
Ground covers
Crop covers

8. Product Details Bird Protection Net Shading net Windshield fabrics
SASMIRA
Product Details
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.

9. Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
SASMIRA
Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
Plant nets
Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape yarns
Warp knitted
Strips of nets with large opening, g/sq.m
Harvesting nets
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

10. Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
SASMIRA
Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
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

11. Fibres used in Agrotextile products
SASMIRA
Fibres used in Agrotextile products
Nylon
Polyester
Polyethylene
Polypropylene
Jute
Wool

12. APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
PRODUCT
APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY
FISHING
CROP PRODUCE
FLORICUL - TURE
HORTICUL- TURE
POST HARVESTING
KNITTED NETS
SHADING 
BIRD PROTECTION
WIND SHIELDS
ANI-HAIL
HARVESTING
MILCHING
PACKAGING
SUPPORT NETS

13. APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
Contd…
PRODUCT
APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY
FISHING
CROP PRODUCE
FLORICUL - TURE
HORTICUL- TURE
POST HARVESTING
NONWOVEN FABRICS
MULCHMAT 
CATTLE SHED UNDERLAY
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
WOVEN FABRICS
PACKING SACKS
SUNCREENS
PLASTIC SHEETS
GROUND COVERS
GREENHOUSE FILMS

14. SASMIRA
Red Mulch for Tomato

15. Strawberry crop on Mulched Beds
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Strawberry crop on Mulched Beds

16. SASMIRA
Solarization

17. SASMIRA
Lining of ponds

18. SASMIRA
Low Tunnels

19. Off-season Vegetable Cultivation in Greenhouses
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Off-season Vegetable Cultivation in Greenhouses

20. SASMIRA
HORTI-POTS

21. MARKET SCENARIO Indian market is expected to increase from
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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

22. Region-wise Global Consumption of Agrotextiles
SASMIRA
S.No.
Regions
Volume of consumption
CAGR%
2005
2010 1
North America
150
152
-0.2
0.3 2
USA
135
137 3
South America
Brazil
117 44
142 53
2.3
2.5
4.0 5
Western Europe
250
261
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
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
4.6
5.5 18
South East Asia
158
205
5.4 19
Africa
110
3.5 20
Oceania
3.1
Identified and forecast by DRA report, World Market forecast, 2010.

23. Summary of the market-sizing for Agrotech
SASMIRA
Summary of the market-sizing for Agrotech
Product
Production
Import
Export
Domestic
consumption
Shade-nets
Quantity
5,000 MT -
2,200 MT
2,800 MT
3,747 MT
Value
Rs 45.5 crore
Rs 17.5 crore
Rs 28 crore
Rs 37.5 crore
Greenhouse films
700 MT
900 MT
1900 MT
2736 MT
7.8 crore
15 crore
22.8 crore
32.8 crore
Mulch-mats
1,050 MT
115 MT
7,000 MT
14.1 crore
1.5 crore
12.6 crore
98 crore
Crop-covers
1000 MT
10 crore
Others
472 crore
11.6 crore
37.5 crore
446.1 crore
crore
TOTAL
24,868 MT
1,875 MT
5,665 MT
21,078 MT
33,390 MT
Rs 549 crore
Rs 27 crore
Rs 67 crore
Rs 510 crore
Rs 742 crore
Source : ICRA Management Services Report on Baseline Study Summary

24. TYPES OF GREEN HOUSE Low cost – Vegetable Medium cost tunnel – Spices
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Low cost – Vegetable
Medium cost tunnel – Spices
High cost -
Floriculture

25. GREEN HOUSES LOW COST MEDIUM COST TYPE HIGH COST MATERIAL FEATURES
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TYPE
MATERIAL
FEATURES
COST (Rs./sq.m)
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

26. ADVANTAGES OF GREEN HOUSE USAGE FOR DIFFERENT CROPS S.N. CROP
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 4
Capsicum
Medium cost
210
110 5
Other Vegetables
185
290
150 90

27. MULCHES BPM in marigold 7-micron plastic in bitter gourd
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

28. BENEFITS OF MULCHING ECONOMICS OF MULCHES Moisture conservation
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 20 29
30.0
1 irrigation can be saved 5
Cotton 93
40.5 6
Tomato 53
14.2
98 % weed control

29. Nonwoven mulches vis-à-vis Mulch films
SASMIRA
Nonwoven mulches vis-à-vis Mulch films
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

30. Textile Mulches (Nonwoven & Woven)
SASMIRA
Textile Mulches (Nonwoven & Woven)
Property
Sample 1
(NW
Needle Punch)
Sample 2
(NW Spun Bonded)
Sample 3
Sample 4
(Woven)
Polymer
Jute 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
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 %

31. 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)
0.30
1.90
0.80
2.30 4
Water vapour permeability
g/sq.m/day
11.3
9.6

32. Benefits of Usage of Protective Agrotextiles
SASMIRA
Benefits of Usage of Protective Agrotextiles
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.

33. IMPEDIMENTS TO MARKETING OF AGROTEXTILES
SASMIRA
IMPEDIMENTS TO MARKETING OF AGROTEXTILES
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

34. STEPS TO PROMOTE USAGE AGROTEXTILES IN THE COUNTRY
SASMIRA
STEPS TO PROMOTE USAGE AGROTEXTILES IN THE COUNTRY
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

35. CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE AGROTEXTILES OUR VISION
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”

36. MISSION COE AGROTEXTILE
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

37. FACILITIES AT COE AGROTEXTILES
SASMIRA
STATE – OF –THE-ART
FACILITIES AT COE AGROTEXTILES
Demonstration Pilot Plant facilities
Accredited Testing facilities
Information center for Agrotextiles
Training Center for Agrotextiles

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. SASMIRA
SASMIRA
THANK YOU