A program was initiated in 1998 to develop technology to improve water and land productivity in Kutch, a vast semi-arid and hot region in north-west India. Greenhouse cultivation was identified as basic approach. A new experimental facility was designed consisting of a greenhouse coupled to ETHE...

Tomato growers of Gujarat , north-west India , traditionally send produce to wholesale market in Ahmedabad city for auction. Growing areas lie about 250-300 km from the city. Growers were constrained to sell there even if the prices were not attractive which the case usually as season advanced...

A specially designed air-cooling (and heating) system using Earth Tube Heat Exchanger (ETHE) was installed in the dwelling of a 15-year old white tiger (Panthera tigris) named Mahesh at Kamala Nehru Zoological Garden, Ahmedabad (India) in October 2000. This was done to alleviate the stresses...

Physical dimensions, mass, shape and bulk density of vegetables grown around Ahmedabad have been determined. Measurements were carried out on samples at the farm immediately after harvest. Pattern underlying one of the characteristic dimensions has been identified. Statistical distribution that...

A large part of Gujarat in the North-west region of India is semi-arid. The lands are less suited for agriculture. Animal husbandry is therefore common. Productivity of cattle is however also low due to problems of feed and due to climatic stresses, specially heat. Environmental control of farm...

A two-phase project is underway to develop greenhouse systems suitable for water scarce, semi-arid region of north-west India (Kutch). The first phase aimed at studying the effectiveness of natural ventilation and earth-tube-heat-exchanger for environmental control, in place of fan-pads commonly...

In hot, arid regions, yields are usually low and unstable. Greenhouse technology can stabilize and improve yields. But its adoption is impeded by the requirement of large amounts of water for cooling. Evaporative cooling is the most common method. Arid Area Greenhouse (AAG) is being developed...

Shortage of drinking water is chronic, sever and widespread in Kutch - a hot and very arid region. It is specially acute in coastal villages where surface sources dry up rapidly and groundwater is not potable. Many of these are listed as “no source” villages and are supplied water on...

In this paper we present the details of fertigation system for greenhouse at Kothara (Kutch). Two separate alternatives--Drip and Sprinklers--have been examined.

This paper identifies and analyses the links in the knowledge journey of an idea to innovation. It tracks the links in the development of customized cartons for packaging tomatoes. The trigger points for the innovation, the milestones crossed by the innovator, the interaction with agencies and...