1. CURRENT SCENARIO OF AGROTEXTILES & RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Workshop-cum-Exhibition on Strengthening Government-Industry-Consumer Partnership in Technical Textiles, 18th Sept., 2009
SASMIRA
CURRENT SCENARIO OF AGROTEXTILES & RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
U. K. GANGOPADHYAY
DIRECTOR
The Synthetic and Art Silk Mills’ Research Association
Sasmira Marg, Worli
Mumbai
MOT,GOI Workshop,

2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
SASMIRA
OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
AGROTEXTILES & VARIOUS PRODUCTS
OEKOTECH & VARIOUS PRODUCTS
MARKET & RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN AGROTEXTILES
CASE STUDIES ON USAGE OF MAJOR AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS VIZ., SHADE NETS, GREENHOUSE & MULCH MATS AND THEIR STANDARDS
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE – AGROTEXTILES AND ITS APPROACH
INFERENCES AND PROPOSED STRATEGIES FOR PROMOTION OF AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS
MOT,GOI Workshop,

3. AGROTEXTILES & VARIOUS PRODUCTS
SASMIRA
AGROTEXTILES & VARIOUS PRODUCTS
MOT,GOI Workshop,

4. SASMIRA
WHAT IS AGROTEXTILE
Special textiles that are manufactured for agricultural applications
These textile structures are used as controlling environment for plants/animals in applications like
Agriculture
Horticulture
Animal husbandry
Benefits Of Agrotextile Products
Used in Protected Cultivation For Indian Agriculturists for improved Productivity & Quality Of Produce and lower Cost Of Production
MOT,GOI Workshop,

5. FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
SASMIRA
FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Sunlight – direct and indirect
Water
Climatic Conditions including wind, hail,
humidity
External factors like birds, insects, weeds
Post Harvest handling of produce – storage
and packaging
In India, presently Agricultural Activities are carried out under Natural Conditions of Temperature and Humidity
MOT,GOI Workshop,

6. CONSEQUENCES OF ABSENCE OF
SASMIRA
CONSEQUENCES OF ABSENCE OF
CONTROL FACTORS
Yield percentage is unsatisfactory
Quality of produce is marred
Damages to the produce
Regional limitation on cultivation
Seasonal limitation on cultivation
THE ABOVE FACTORS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED USING AGROTEXTILE PRODUCTS
MOT,GOI Workshop,

7. APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
PRODUCT
APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY
FISHING
CROP PRODUCE
FLORICUL - TURE
HORTICUL- TURE
POST HARVESTING
KNITTED NETS
SHADING 
BIRD PROTECTION
WIND SHIELDS
ANTI-HAIL
HARVESTING
MILCHING
PACKAGING
SUPPORT NETS
MOT,GOI Workshop,

8. APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
SASMIRA
AGRO TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
Contd…
PRODUCT
APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL HUSBAN- DARY
FISHING
CROP PRODUCE
FLORICUL - TURE
HORTICUL- TURE
POST HARVESTING
NONWOVEN FABRICS
MULCHMAT 
CATTLE SHED UNDERLAY
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
WOVEN FABRICS
PACKING SACKS
SUNCREENS
PLASTIC SHEETS
GROUND COVERS
GREENHOUSE FILMS
MOT,GOI Workshop,

9. Agrotextile Product Details
SASMIRA
Agrotextile Product Details
Bird Protection Net
Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape yarns, Warp knitted, 2 – 3 cm mesh size, 40 – 80 g/sq.m. Woven structures of lighter weight are also used
Shading net
Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape yarns, Warp knitted, mesh size as per the required shading %, 40 – 80 g/sq.m. Woven structures of lighter weight are also used
Windshield fabrics
Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape yarns, Warp knitted, mesh size as per the required wind blocking %, 40 – 90 g/sq.m. Woven structures of lighter weight are also used
MOT,GOI Workshop,

10. Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
SASMIRA
Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
Plant nets
Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape yarns, Warp knitted, Strips of nets with large opening, g/sq.m
Harvesting nets
Polypropylene monofilament / Polyethylene Tape yarns, Warp knitted, Flat nets of square or triangular construction, of mesh size 8 – 12 mm, 40 – 90 g/sq.m. Woven structures of lighter weight are also used
MOT,GOI Workshop,

11. Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
SASMIRA
Agrotextile Product Details, contd..
Mulch Mat
Polypropylene, spunbonded, 60 – 80 g/sq.m. Woven biodegradable structures are also used
Packing Material
Polyethylene Tape yarn, Warp knitted, 50 – 60 g/sq.m
MOT,GOI Workshop,

12. OEKOTECH & VARIOUS PRODUCTS To PROTECT ENVIRONMENT
SASMIRA
OEKOTECH
&
VARIOUS PRODUCTS To
PROTECT ENVIRONMENT
MOT,GOI Workshop,

13. OEKOTECH Oekotech is an important areas of technical textiles.
SASMIRA
OEKOTECH
Oekotech is an important areas of technical textiles.
Used for environmental protection and waste disposal.
Its use is based on environmental damages for:
Building demolition
Power plant ash
Sewage treatment sludge
Incinerated waste ash
Municipal waste
Untreated hospital waste
Hazardous waste
Radioactive waste
MOT,GOI Workshop,

14. OEKOTECH PRODUCTS & USES
SASMIRA
OEKOTECH PRODUCTS & USES
Geogrids - reinforce slopes beneath the waste, walls, cover soils above geomembranes;
Geonets - in-plane drainage;
Geomembranes – a barrier to liquids, gases and/or vapors and landfill caps;
Geocomposites –for separation, filtration or drainage;
Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) - an infiltration/hydraulic barrier; used also for mine rehabilitation, tunnels, secondary containment
Geopipes - landfill applications to facilitate collection and rapid drainage of the leachate to a sump and removal system;
Geotextiles - filtration purpose or as cushion to protect the geomembrane from puncture.
MOT,GOI Workshop,

15. MARKET & RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN AGROTEXTILES
SASMIRA
MARKET
&
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN
AGROTEXTILES
MOT,GOI Workshop,

16. Agrotextiles - International Scenario
SASMIRA
Most popular in Western Europe & North East Asia
Help cultivation of crops in arid & semi-arid regions
Shade Nets
In Fuji, use of shade nets significantly reduced sunburn damage to apple crop
In Spain, use shade net has found to reduce evaporation of irrigating water by 8 %
Mulch Mats – Studies by horticulturist in USA revealed
Help to retain the soil moisture crucial for plant survival
Reduce growth of weeds that compete for needed resource
Bird Protection Nets
The menace of birds in Australia was solved in harmless manner without hurting or killing them.
Harvesting Nets
Prevent falling off of ripened fruits to the ground
MOT,GOI Workshop,

17. SASMIRA
INDIAN SCENARIO
USAGE OF SHADE NETS AND MULCH MATS FOR PROTECTIVE CULTIVATION NOW PREVALENT.
DUE TO LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, SAME PRODUCT BEING USED FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS WITH VARIED RESULTS.
MOREOVER, NO SPECIFIED STUDIES FOUND TO SUGGEST SUITABILITY OF PRODUCTS VIS-À-VIS PRODUCTIVITY.
THIS IS WHERE SASMIRA’S CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR AGROTEXTILES CAN RESCUES THE FARMERS
MOT,GOI Workshop,

18. Potential of the market-sizing for Agrotech in India
SASMIRA
Potential of the market-sizing for Agrotech in India
Product
Production
Import
Export
Domestic
consumption
Shade-nets
Quantity
5,000 MT -
2,200 MT
2,800 MT
3,747 MT
Value
Rs 45.5 crore
Rs 17.5 crore
Rs 28 crore
Rs 37.5 crore
Greenhouse films
700 MT
900 MT
1900 MT
2736 MT
7.8 crore
15 crore
22.8 crore
32.8 crore
Mulch-mats
1,050 MT
115 MT
7,000 MT
14.1 crore
1.5 crore
12.6 crore
98 crore
Crop-covers
1000 MT
10 crore
Others
472 crore
11.6 crore
37.5 crore
446.1 crore
crore
TOTAL
24,868 MT
1,875 MT
5,665 MT
21,078 MT
33,390 MT
Rs 549 crore
Rs 27 crore
Rs 67 crore
Rs 510 crore
Rs 742 crore
Source : ICRA Management Services Report on Baseline Study Summary
MOT,GOI Workshop,

19. Recent Trend of Developments in Agrotextiles
SASMIRA
Recent Trend of Developments in Agrotextiles
Polymer fibre balls as substitute for soil
Screening fabrics for sunlight management
Knitted net hose for water transportation
Superabsorbent polymer fibre mats for
water management in horticulture applications
Use of water retention nets coated with
Superabsorbent polymer resin
Composites of hemp or polypropylene for
reducing soil pollutants
MOT,GOI Workshop,

20. Abstracts of Recent Development
SASMIRA
Abstracts of Recent Development
Polymer fibre balls as substitute for soil
Randomly crimped fibre balls, mm, biodegradable/non-biodegradable, substitute for soil, provide excellent drainage, oxygenation and thermal insulation
BACK
MOT,GOI Workshop,

21. Screening fabrics for sunlight management
SASMIRA
Screening fabrics for sunlight management
Fabrics of elastic weft and metallised polyester warp helps to control level of sunlight, air circulation, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration for the vegetation
BACK
MOT,GOI Workshop,

22. Knitted net hose for water transportation
SASMIRA
Knitted net hose for water transportation
Warp knitted based on Kemafil Technology, help in storing and transporting water near to plant roots for irrigation.
BACK
MOT,GOI Workshop,

23. SASMIRA
Superabsorbent polymer fibre mats for Water management in horticulture applications
SAP helps to enhance retain water, suitable for horticulture in drought-prone areas
BACK
MOT,GOI Workshop,

24. Use of water retention nets coated with Superabsorbent polymer resin
SASMIRA
Use of water retention nets coated with Superabsorbent polymer resin
Textile structures coated with SAP resin, enhance water retention property to support plant growth
BACK
MOT,GOI Workshop,

25. Composites of hemp or polypropylene for reducing soil pollutants
SASMIRA
Composites of hemp or polypropylene for reducing soil pollutants
Composite of Hemp or Polypropylene nonwoven fabrics and aluminium silicate, found to be useful in protection of soil from chemical pollutants
BACK
MOT,GOI Workshop,

26. SASMIRA’s PROPOSED STUDIES FOR STANDARDIZATION OF AGROTEXTILES
Development of durable breathable and barrier work wear fabrics for Agrotextile applications.
Development of speciality fabric for water conservation and soil erosion control used in horticulture application.
Establishing structural parameters of agrotextile products and their influence on the functional characteristics of these products.
Development of Reflective Agrotextiles for Sun Management.
Developing barrier packaging for Agricultural produce.
MOT,GOI Workshop,