Polyhouse farming gains popularity in Joypurhat

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) builds polyhouse free of cost for the farmers in remote villages of Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat district.

Farming organic vegetables in polynet houses using modern technology will play a significant role in the development of agriculture in the country, experts said.

Polynet house is a new innovation in agricultural science to meet the challenges of climate change.

Local farmers informed, the vegetables grown in polyhouse are free from chemical. It also requires less labour cost, less fertiliser and less insecticides but the production of the vegetables and flowers are more standard in quality.

A huge change in entire agriculture sector as well as in socio-economic condition would be occurred if such new technique is spread throughout the country, they opined.

According to the District DAE sources, winter vegetables can be produced in summer as well as summer vegetables can also be produced in winter in polynet houses.

The plants will not be affected by weather changes. Vegetables will be safe even in adverse environments like heavy rainfall, and heat, against insects, and viral diseases in polynet houses made with modern technology. Using this technology does not require the use of pesticides.

Farmers Rabiul Alam and Abdur Rahman of Paschim Dhurail village of Kusumba union of the upazila are beneficiaries of DAE’s expanding vegetable cultivation in the polynet house project.

Rabiul Alam said the polynet house on his farm has been constructed by the DAE free of cost.

He is currently farming Minto Super and Bahubali varieties of tomato, Sundrop variety of chilli, BT variety of aubergine, Queen Anne variety of potato, broccoli, cauliflower, beet, carrot, lettuce and other vegetables.

Rabiul said that in addition to vegetable cultivation in Polynet House, he cultivated lettuce and broccoli on 8 decimals of land outside. Vegetables grown outdoors are prone to insects, but vegetables grown in a polynet house remain safe from insect attack.

Farmer Abdur Rahman is cultivating vegetables inside the polynet house on 15 decimals of land. The house is built using iron angles to surround the contraption with netting to prevent insects from entering. There is modern irrigation technology.

“The DAE built the contraption for me last October. The organic vegetables are in good demand in the market, so I am profiting well from it,” he said.

Panchbibi Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Lutfar Rahman said many other farmers of the area have shown interest in using polynet houses being inspired by Rabiul and Abdur’s success.

“Polynet houses can become a role model in cultivating high-quality vegetables. It is possible to get safe and pesticide-free vegetables throughout the year using this method,” said Deputy Director of District DAE agriculturist Rahela Parveen.

Polyhouse or greenhouse is a house or a structure made of translucent material like glass or polyethylene where the plants grow and develop under controlled climatic conditions. The size of structure can differ from small shacks to big-size buildings as per the need. Above all, a greenhouse is a glass house whose interiors become warm when exposed to sunbeams as the house stops the greenhouse gas to leave. So when it is cold outside, the temperature inside is survival friendly and warm for the plants. Polyhouse is very beneficial for the farmers specially those who prefer organic farming.