Israeli agri scientists are imparting training and providing seeds to farmers in Haryana to grow vegetables throughout the year even in the condition of water scarcity.
The centre of excellence in vegetable set up by Israel in partnership with India at Gharaunda in Karnal district in 2010 is enriching farmers and is also providing seeds of veggies like tomato, capsicum and brinjal, which can be cultivated even in off-season.
Israel had earlier announced setting up 27 Indo-Israel centres of excellence for vegetables in different parts of India. Bulk of these projects will be set up in Haryana, as the production capacity and climatic conditions of Israel and Haryana are quite similar.
The centre spread in 25 acres in Gharaunda is making farmers aware of advantages of poly houses and latest technology in cultivation of vegetables, officials said.
Vegetables survive for long in the poly houses, they said, adding this could be an effective means to ward off the crisis of vegetables in off season.
The Israeli farm technology is also effective even in the condition of water scarcity, they said.
Additional Director, Horticulture of Haryana Government, Mr Arjun Singh Saini said that farmers can grow any vegetable round the year in poly ,houses which is not possible in open air field.
He said due to proximity to the National Capital, by growing vegetables throughout the season, local farmers can earn handsome gains.
Mr Saini said farmers are getting 90 per cent subsidy out of programmes run by the Centre as well the State for setting up poly houses.
He said the expense is more in cultivation in poly houses but popularisation of the technology would bring down the cost.
Haryana has 38 lakh hectares of agri land out of which almost 85 per cent is under cultivation of vegetables.