Protected Cultivation for Food and Nutritional Security at Ladakh (Review Paper)

  • Gyan P. Mishra Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
  • Narendra Singh Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
  • Hitesh Kumar Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
  • Shashi Bala Singh Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
Keywords: Protective cultivation, high altitude cultivation, greenhouse technology, nutritional security, high altitude agriculture, high altitude agro-animal technologies

Abstract

Ladakh, being cold, arid, high altitude region of India has a very harsh climate and a short agriculture season. Due to extreme long winter, the agriculture season is short, which extends from May-September in general, and in case of particular location, it depends upon altitude. Although the greenhouse technology is more than 200 years old but with the advent of plastics during the World War-II, a new phase in the greenhouse technology has emerged. The Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), one of the DRDO laboratories, is providing adequate support and technological help to set various types of green houses, both for the Army Units deployed in the far-flung areas and for the local farmers in the Ladakh. Till date, there were 65 greenhouses being established by DIHAR in most of the Army Units deployed in the L sector with the average vegetable production of around 2000 kg/ greenhouse/year. At present, the much needed vegetables are being grown throughout the year in these hostile climates under protective cultivation, which not only gives them the fresh food but also the nutritional security of the troops deployed.

Defence Science Journal, 2010, 60(2), pp.219-225, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.343

Author Biographies

Gyan P. Mishra, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
Presently, working as Scientist C in Vegetable Science Division, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR). His area of specialisation is molecular breeding.
Narendra Singh, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
Presently, working as Scientist D in the Vegetable Science Division, DIHAR. His area of specialisation is high altitude vegetable cultivation technology.
Hitesh Kumar, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
Working as STA B in the Vegetable Science Division, DIHAR. His area of specialisation is high altitude vegetable cultivation technology. He is actively engaged in the R&D activities for high altitude vegetable
production technology of the institute.
Shashi Bala Singh, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh
Presently she is working as a Director, DIHAR, Leh. She has rich experience in the field of high altitude human physiology. She has developed a method for ameliorating hypophagia by taking
gingerbased appetizers before meal. She has also contributed in the development of supplementation with antioxidant and cholromimetic drugs to improve high altitude induced impairment in cognitive functions.
Published
2010-04-20
How to Cite
Mishra, G., Singh, N., Kumar, H., & Singh, S. (2010). Protected Cultivation for Food and Nutritional Security at Ladakh (Review Paper). Defence Science Journal, 60(2), 219-225. https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.343

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