Significance of Agro Textiles in Crop Production

Abstract

Agriculture is a major sector of Indian economy and an important employment provider. Agro textiles are the application of textile materials in the field of agriculture manufactured by involving various techniques to limit the use of pesticides and herbicides during crop production, crop protection, storage and transportation. For successful application as Agro textiles, a material should have properties to withstand solar and ultraviolet radiations and should have good protection capabilities along with being Bio degradable. Agro textiles have various usages not only limited to crop protection but also used for water management like drip and sprinkler system and for lining of ponds to prevent seepage and evaporation. Mainly knitted fabric is used for this purpose with varying GSM and composition depending on the application and properties required from the textile material. Studies suggest that there is a possibility of 10-40 per cent loss in crop production due to climate change and increase in atmospheric temperature in next 30 years. Increasing usage of agro textiles which help in providing a controlled environment for the crop to grow in most favorable conditions can help in improving the efficiency of agriculture sector. It is important that enough awareness regarding benefits of agro textiles is created to increase its usage and decrease its cost to make commercially viable and acceptable and bring the prices at par with international supply chain