The valley experiences harsh winters. Winter starts from November and continues until mid-March. During these months, the rates of essential commodities skyrocket. We have very few alternatives to store fresh vegetables because the chilling cold wave spoils edible items and creates suffering for the consumers.
Importance of Greenhouse Sheds
The government has taken several initiatives to eradicate the shortage of vegetables and fruits during winter. Due to health benefits and the presence of rich nutrients like vitamins, carbohydrates, and fiber, vegetables are given priority by the administration before the arrival of winter.
I want to add to your knowledge that a recent study by the Biodiversity of International Scientists in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations revealed that there are about 1,100 vegetable species with a great variety of uses and growth forms cultivated throughout the globe. Vegetables and fruits are essential food items for the healthy survival of humans on this blue planet.
In the Kashmir Valley, winters are extremely harsh, and survival becomes difficult. There are many reasons behind this, including the fact that our farmers are not well equipped by the concerned authorities to minimize the shortage of vegetables during this period. Nowadays in Kashmir, the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing, which is very unfortunate and unacceptable for consumers. People are suffering from various nutrient-deficiency diseases. Pulses and dried vegetables are also consumed in winter, but studies have shown that dried vegetables are not very healthy, and their consumption may even lead to infections.
In this article, I am going to highlight the role of the Horticulture Department: how the department improves the distribution and installation of greenhouse sheds and distributes vegetable saplings among growers. The Horticulture Department plays an important role by holding awareness programmes during seasonal cultivation of vegetables and fruits in the valley. We know that most of our farmers are not highly educated, but they have gained vast experience. They help grow the nation, boost the economy of the country, and feed the people through their day-and-night hard work. The farming community deserves appreciation and should be included under beneficial schemes, providing them with advanced equipment, carriages, sprayers, and good-quality fertilizers so that the yield increases.
The Horticulture Department introduced the scheme years ago, inviting applications from desirous farmers for the installation of miniature greenhouses and providing them an amount of ₹10,000 as a subsidy. The scheme requires growers to submit an application on A4-size paper. After approval from the concerned authorities, the beneficiary has to deposit ₹21,000 into the account of the Horticulture Department. After the installation of the greenhouse shed, ₹10,000 is credited back into the beneficiary’s account. This scheme is beneficial, but there are still certain areas that must be considered to favour farmers.
The department should provide expert and trained staff who guide beneficiaries and offer proper counselling on how to grow seasonal vegetables and what the do’s and don’ts are. Many farmers do not know how to prepare saplings for the greenhouse or how to produce adequate quantities of seasonal vegetables. Greenhouses are widely used throughout the world for raising vegetable saplings and for gardening purposes. In large flowering gardens, greenhouse sheds are highly useful and benefit growers on a large scale.
The greenhouse effect is a scientific phenomenon first introduced by Joseph Fourier in 1824. The greenhouse effect is also related to the carbon-dioxide problem. A greenhouse is a building with glass walls and a glass roof. Greenhouses are used to grow plants such as tomatoes, coriander, radish, and many flowers. A greenhouse stays warm inside during winter. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide, and methane (CH₄) trap reflected sunlight and warm the greenhouse from within.
Suggestions
There are still a large number of farmers who are unaware of the scheme and have not benefited from it. The concerned Horticulture Department should hold more counselling programmes, and the general public should be informed through local village bodies. Seasonal seeds and good-quality fertilizers should be provided to growers at subsidized rates and in adequate quantities.
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