Netafim says it is helping Shivpuri tomato farmers to grow more through its drip technology
Netafim, Orbia and a provider of precision farming solutions, said on Wednesday that it is helping Shivpuri farmers in Madhya Pradesh grow more tomatoes by spending less on agricultural inputs under the Better Life Farming (BLF) initiative.
Under this initiative, farmers are being encouraged to adopt drip irrigation technology in Shivpuri district, which is a leading tomato producer. Drip irrigation systems are provided by four BLF centers located in Khajuri, Kolaras and Pohari district in Shivpuri district, implemented by Netafim to cover 1600 hectares. The drip irrigation technology has helped farmers grow about 30 tons of tomatoes in one acre and get a total income of ₹1.5-2.5 lakh as compared to the previous 20 tons and an income of ₹1-1.2 lakh in one acre, Netafim said in a statement.
Despite their reputation for tomatoes, small farmers in Shivpuri often face challenges in growing and harvesting tomato crops when prices are optimal. One of the biggest reasons behind this is flood irrigation in tomato cultivation. This practice results in higher consumption of agricultural inputs, wastage of fertilizers, obtaining a uniform size tomato crop and weed growth. Tomatoes require a high water supply, especially in the stage immediately after planting, to reach their full potential in the production process. This is where Netafim helps farmers with its drip irrigation technology – FlexNet Portable Drip Kit. The company said drip irrigation delivers measured doses of water and nutrients at the right time directly to the root level, ultimately reducing the cost of inputs by 25 percent and increasing profitability for farmers.
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FlexNet kit
The FlexNet portable drip kit is available for as small an area as a large plot and large fields. The drip kit comes in a box, thus it is easy to transport and convenient to carry. Farmers can install the drip kit without any technical support or workers. The set provides multi-purpose features. Once the farmers harvest the tomatoes, they can also use the sub-main pipe of the set to do furrow irrigation while also harvesting the wheat.
Amit Maheshwari, Head of Business Development, Netafim said, “Access to quality agricultural inputs and financial and technical assistance to tomato farmers in Shivpuri is being accelerated through BLF centres. However, district farmers should focus on optimal use of agricultural inputs and harvest time of tomatoes. We believe that sustainable techniques such as adopting drip irrigation technology will increase tomato cultivation and make it a profitable crop.”