Agrotech Sector Presentation ( 2013)

1. Agrotech Sector Presentation (2013)

2. Contents • Agro Textiles in India – An Introduction • Incentives offered under TMTT • Centre of Excellence for AgroTextiles • Standardisation in Agro Textiles • Key Players in the Industry • Key Contact Points

3. 1. Agro Textiles in India • The word “Agrotextiles” is used to classify the woven, nonwoven and knitted fabrics applied for agricultural & horticultural uses including livestock protection, shading, weed and insect control, and extension of the growing season. • Agrotech includes technical textile products used in agriculture for applications such as crop protection, yield enhancement etc. • Agrotech products help to control environmental factors like temperature, water and humidity and also help to prevent damage to agro products from wind, rain and birds • Agrotextiles are beneficial in terms of increase in yield, lesser crop diseases, soil borne pathogens control, water saving, weed control, etc. It improves the quality of the crops. The growth of the plants is accelerated and they are protected from adverse weather conditions and vermin • Key products in the Agrotech segment include: • Shade-nets • Mulch-mats • Crop-covers • Anti-hail nets and bird protection nets • Fishing nets • Fishing nets constitute over 90% of the Agrotech technical textiles usage in India

4. 1. Agro Textiles in India Agrotech’sgrowth story in India • Agrotech segment is expected to grow in India 20% to US $ 340 Million by 2016-17 from the current level of $ 136 Million in 2012-13 as per the estimations by the Working Group on Textiles and Jute Industry, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Market Size for Industrial Textiles in India Break-up of market size in products

5. Agrotechapplication areas • Agrotech application • Agriculture • Aquaculture • Horticulture • Forestry • Animal Husbandry • Sunlight Protection, Wind protection, weed protection, water retention, Physical damage protection • Fish Nets, anti-fouling nets, Ultraviolet radiation Protection. • Ultraviolet radiation protection, Wind protection, bird protection, insect protection • Soil protection, weed protection for tree plantations • Belts of polyester and nylon material for animals identification • Filtering of milk in an automatic milking system • Underlay to reduce the mud on cattle paths and trails

6. Agrotech products Shade Nets Plant Nets To protect plants from intense solar radiations, sunscreens are used. These allow free airflow through them to avoid excess heat buildup They are used to prevent the damage to the vegetables and fruits like tomato from damp soil contact. Primarily used for the fruits which grow close to the ground. Mulch-mats Harvesting Net Mulch mats are used to prevent the parasitic weed growth around the plant by covering the soil and blocking the sunlight. This also reduces the need for herbicides. The harvesting nets are tied to the trees and are used to catch the falling fruits from trees, this enables saving on labour costs.

7. Agrotechproducts Crop Covers Wind Shield They are used for covering the crops to control weed growth and retain moisture in the soil. Since it is a woven product, water and nutrients seep through, eliminating unsightly and hazardous water puddles. They are used for protecting the sensitive plants from the impact of high speed winds. This reduces the damage to the plant and increases yield. Agro Bags Green House Green house protects the crop against the infrared and ultraviolet rays, heavy rain and air. The yield is higher due to high carbon dioxide and hence higher photosynthesis. Can be used to grow non-seasonal crop as well The roots are protected, which facilitates transplantation and accelerates the resumption of growth of a plant.

8. Agrotechproducts Soil Covers Grass Reinforcements Used to cover the soil in the areas where weeds need to be controlled like green houses, outdoors etc. A grass reinforcement mesh provides a cost-effective alternative to gravel and paving. Ideal for stabilizing farm gateways, tracks and pathways. Packaging Material The packaging material is useful because of their high strength, low weight, transparency, air permeability and low cost. The pressure exerted on soft fruits is very less, which reduces the damage to such items in transportation

9. Properties Of Agrotextiles 1 Resistance to micro-organisms • The agro textile products are used in moist areas with ample opportunities for micro-organisms to grow on them. To avoid any damage to the material as well as the plants it is very important for such products to be micro-organism resistant. 2 Withstands solar radiation • Agro textiles are laid over the cultivated areas immediately after sowing or planting. For such application Agrotextiles have to withstand solar radiation with varying surrounding temperature. 3 Withstands ultraviolet radiation • UV radiation leads to degradation of molecular chains of such products made of man-made fibers. Hence when used as an outdoor material agrotextiles should be treated with the appropriate UV stabilizers. This also helps the UV radiation protection of plants 4 Bio degradability • Natural fibers like wool, jute, cotton are also used where the bio-degradability of product is essential. Natural polymer gives the advantage of bio-degradation but has low service life when compared to the synthetics. 

10. Properties Of Agrotextiles 5 High potential to retain water • This is achieved by means of fiber materials which allows retaining high amounts of water and by filling in super-absorbers. 6 Protection property • Protection from wind and creation of a micro-climate between ground and textile material, which results in temperature and humidity being maintained which is needed for earlier harvests. 7 Dimensional stability • This property prevents the fabric to loosen up while it is being used, as the loosening or change in dimensions of the material may lead to non-usability of the material 8 Flexibility • To allow the usage of agrotextiles in varying areas and places. 

11. Technology used Forms of agrotextiles Fibers used • There are different forms of agro textiles available such as: • Nets • Sheets • Woven • Nonwovens • Knitted • Coated • Synthetic as well as natural fibers are used in agro textiles. Fibers used in agro textiles are as follows: • Nylon • Polyester • Polyethylene • Polyolefin • Polypropylene • Jute • Wool • Amongst all these fibers the Polyolefin is extensively used whereas amongst natural fibers jute and wool are used they not only serve the purpose but also after some time they degrade and act as a natural fertilizer

12. 2. Incentives offered under TMTT • Launched in December 2010, Technology Mission on Technical Textiles encourages domestic & export market development of technical textiles including industrial textiles. • Business start-up assistance • Handholding support to new entrepreneurs through empanelled consultants • Empanelled consultant will help MSME in product selection, market selection, technology selection & sourcing and preparation of project report • Financial Assistance – 2% - 3% of the project cost with an upper ceiling at Rs. 5 lakhs – Rs. 6 lakhs • Contract research assistance • Encourages contract research in development of product, process and technology in technical textiles including industrial textiles. • Financial Assistance – 60% of the research cost upto Rs. 20 lakhs • Market development assistance for export sales • Encourages participation in exhibition, trade fairs, etc. in foreign countries • Financial assistance – 50% of the cost upto Rs. 5 lakh per visit. • For further details, please visit – http://technotex.gov.in/tmttsub.htm

13. 3. Centre of Excellence for Industrial Textiles • Ministry of Textile has sponsored a Centre of Excellence for Agrotech at SASMIRA, Mumbai.

14. 4. Standardisation in Agrotech • Ministry of Textile alongwith the COE for Agrotechand BIS is encouraging the development of standards in industrial textiles. • List of standards that are approved and live in Agrotechare:

15. 4. Standardisation in Agrotech

16. 6. Key Players in Agrotech

17. 7. Key Contact Points • Office of Textile Commissioner Email: tmtt.coe@gmail.com Ph: 91-22-22001050 • PMMC to TMTT Email: hemant.chaudhary@in.ey.com or vikas.nigam@wazir.in Ph: +91-9999987174 (Hemant) or +91-9769825350 (Vikas) • Centre of Excellence in Agrotech Email: sasmira@vsnl.com,sasmira@bom3.vsnl.net.in Ph: +91 - 022 - 24935351-52 • Indian Technical Textile Association Email: info@ittaindia.org Ph: 91-22-24945372 / 24949983

18. Thank You