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Neel Agrotech

Ahmedabad based greenhouse supplier.

Neel Agrotech Pvt Ltd was set up in June 1997. The directors of the company are Mr. Mitul Shah and Mr. Dewang Shah. The company installs greenhouses. Neel is headquartered in Ahmedabad.

Product List
The company installs 2 types of greenhouses: greenhouse – premium and greenhouse – standard.  These greenhouses are naturally ventilated greenhouses, having vents at top and at sides. The open top roof vent allows a continuous air flow to reduce the inside temperature to the optimum level. The structure is fully hot drip galvanized and covered with 200 micron polytylene film. “This structure is very easy to build as all components are prefabricated. The modular system can be built in any multiple of the modular sizes. Tailor made sizes are available on request,” avers Mr. Mitul Shah, joint managing director..

Greenhouse Premium
The greenhouse premium offers a total ventilation of upto 25%. Following are the features of the greenhouse premium:
· Monofilament nets on sides. Special woven fabric as apron
· Galvanized pipe structure
· Special gutters: 1.6 mm thick
· Designs to resist a wind seed of: 100, 120 & 140 km/hr

Greenhouse Standard
The greenhouse standard offers upto 18% ventilation.
Following are the features of the greenhouse standard:
· Monofilament nets on sides. Polyfilm/special woven fabric (optional) as apron
· Galvanized pipe structure
· GI gutters (1.0 mm thick)
· Designs to resist a wind seed of: 100, 120 & 140 km/hr
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Application
Greenhouses are mainly used for high value horticulture & floriculture crops where one can grow into extended season and can grow very good quality produce throughout the growing period. “Floriculture crops like roses, gerbera, herbs, exotic vegetables, tomatoes and colored capsicum require greenhouse, since they are sensitive and need quality uniformity for better marketability,” avers Mr. Shah.

Mr. Shah lists the advantages of having greenhouses as the following :
· You can grow anything, anywhere in any season irrespective of the climate conditions
· Greenhouses provide better crop intensity, which means high yield crops. In other words, higher and faster output through limited resources of land and water
· Reduced crop cycle time reduced time between plantation and harvest
· Organic farming also possible which is an Eco-friendly and zero health hazards on account of chemicals and pesticides
· Makes enormous business sense to cultivate high value crop during off-season that could fetch high premium
· A highly viable project since no crop failure on account of climatic disorder
· Income completely exempt from income tax

Shade Nets
Explaining why shade nets are fitted with different colors, Mr. Shah says, “Crops behave differently in different wavelength of lights. Different colours of shade nets are used for different results like vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, etc.”

Thermal Screens
Thermal screens reflect sunlight, reducing reach of solar radiation to crop, thus providing cooling effect along with shading results.

Procurement of Raw Materials
The company procures most of the raw materials for constructing the greenhouses locally. “Most of the structural materials are available locally in India. Some critical components are imported,” maintains Mr. Shah

Cost of Installation
Cost of greenhouse varies from Rs. 450 per sq.m. to Rs. 650 per sq.m. or even more, depending on the size of greenhouse, design of greenhouse, automation requirements, etc. The prerequisites for installing a greenhouse are piece of land, an investment according to the size of the greenhouse project, electricity connection and water supply. Speaking about the benefits of installing greenhouses for small and marginal farmers, Mr. Shah says, “Small & marginal farmers can take advantage of greenhouse with high returns by producing non-conventional crops. Government assistance is available for them for initial setup. Further, cluster/ growers groups/ co- operatives formation may help them to produce and market in an organized way.”

Fertigation Control System
Fertigation Control system is an advanced technique of water and fertilizer management in agriculture. “It ensures about the right water quantity with right fertilizer proportion at right time, without manual efforts and labour. i.e. with an automated mechanism. The control unit (Computer) is programmed for the particular crop description, water requirement, fertilizer requirement, time details and systematized water supply schedule,” says Mr. Shah.

Target Clientele
The company has installed greenhouses in large numbers predominantly in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Some of its prominent clients include Shilpraj Floritech, Madhusudan Industries, Best Roses, Cadila Pharma, Agricultural Universities of Gujarat, Forest Department of Gujarat, GSFC Ltd. and IFFCO Ltd. beside others.

Speaking about the difficulties faced by the company in marketing it products, Mr. Shah says, “The difficulties in local marketing are: price variance, un-organized market, demand variance and proper transportation facilities are not available. The solution lies in export marketing and networking growers and buyers.”

Further when asked about market competition, he avers, “Our company provides several advantages compared to competition. We provide complete technology solution to customer, quality inputs and planting materials to customer, and also assist farmers to avail government subsidy and bank finance.” The company also provides service after installation of the greenhouse.

Future Plans
Speaking about the company’s future plans, Mr. Shah says, “In future we plan to diversify in order to serve our customers better, like marketing network, processing units, input supply, etc.” The company gets technical know-how from international company for the installation and betterment of the greenhouses. Mr. Shah has experience in this field for more than 10 years.

Our Correspondent

Source : Agriculture & Industry Survey [/hidepost]

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