Madhavaram horticulture park to soon offer eco-friendly agri courses for kids

From water-saving drip and mist irrigation to cultivation of mushroom, students will soon be able to participate in agriculture-related programmes and study the nuances of farming vegetables and flowers through climate-controlled poly house farming.

Polyhouse farming is similar to greenhouse farming but instead of glass, as is used in greenhouses, polyethylene plastic, is used to cover the house. In this kind of farming temperature, humidity, watering and fertiliser dispersion are automated.

Speaking about the harvest, officials from the state horticulture department said that cucumber and flowers that were cultivated through mist irrigation and shadow farming are a big hit among consumers.

According to state agriculture secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, the park – that was ravaged by cyclone Vardah in 2016 -- was already functioning as a horticulture resource centre but suffered water logging during winter and dry spells during summer. “This problem was resolved by creating four new ponds,” he said.

The state government has pumped in more than Rs 30 crore to revitalise the park and turn it into an educational institution for students interested in farming and horticulture. Besides offering a diploma in horticulture, the park will give hands-on training on different types of farming, said the official.