In the freezing high-altitude desert of Ladakh, where winter temperatures drop below –30°C, open-field farming is limited to a few summer months. Greenhouse innovations are transforming agriculture.
In Ladakh, farming was limited by extreme cold, strong sunlight, and small plots of land. However, new greenhouse methods are helping to improve agriculture in the region.
Structures like solar greenhouses, trench greenhouses, and low tunnels make it possible to grow vegetables even on cold winter days. These setups trap sunlight to keep inside warm, allowing crops like spinach, cabbage, lettuce, and kale to grow in winter. Allow to grow tomatoes, brinjals, and gourds in summer.
They also help start fruit and vegetable seedlings earlier in the season. The Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR) started Ladakh’s greenhouse journey in the 1960s. The institute has continually improved designs, using heat-retaining stone walls, polycarbonate sheets, and recessed structures that create more warmth.
The Research proves that larger greenhouses give much better results than smaller ones. They hold heat and humidity more effectively. For example, large greenhouses produced 20 times more cucumbers per plant than open fields.
Both small and large trench greenhouses are a cost-effective method promoted by institutions like SKUAST and DIHAR. These underground structures keep heat well, supporting three crop cycles annually and producing a large amount of spinach, seedlings, and summer vegetables. Low tunnels are simple, low-cost structures that also boost crop production and seedling survival while offering wind protection and thermal insulation.
However, with these advancements come new challenges. Greenhouses create favorable conditions for pests like aphids and diseases due to high humidity and limited airflow. Improved designs that focus on ventilation, hygiene, and controlling pests naturally are important.
Ladakh is also promoting organic farming because it already uses very minimal use of synthetic chemicals. Some Institutions like CAZRI are even creating multipurpose solar houses for both cultivation and produce drying.
These protected farming methods have already grown more than 30 vegetable varieties in Ladakh. They allow crops to grow for longer periods and help farmers earn more income. In a place where farming was very difficult for most of the year, these smart ideas are changing the way farming is done.
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