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Role Of Standards In Promotion Of

Agro textiles Presentation By:

Ashish Lapalikar

Vice President R&DNeo Corp International Ltd

Indore.

30.11.2011

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Agro Textiles Product basket Current status of Standards Role of Standards Issues arising from absence of standards A step ahead Major challenges Concluding remarks

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Overview

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Agro textile Products Vermibeds

Pond Liners Flexi Planters

Baler twines/ropes Leno Bags

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Agro textile ProductsMulch Films Crop covers

Anti-hail nets/ bird protection nets

Fishing nets

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Shade nets

Green house films

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Current Status Of Agro Textile Standards

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Glossary of Agro textiles finalized and accepted by BIS and is Under publication

Specifications for 50%, 75% and 90% Shade Factor Shade Nets.

Draft standard finalized and is under Publication.

Mulch Mat Draft under release

Ground Cover- Specifications Under consideration.

Vermibed IS:15907:2010

Green House Films IS:15827:2009

Pond Liners IS:15351:2008

Rope (PP) IS:5175:1992

Rope (HDPE) IS: 8674:1989

Non Wovens ?

Mulch Films IS:15177:2002 (Code of Practice)

Role of standards

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Ensure consistent and improved performance

Capability Quality Sustainability

PRODUCTS

CUSTOMER

Developcompetitivemanufacturingcapability

Ensureconformity withMarket/customerrequirements

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ISSUES ARISING FROM ABSENCE OF STANDARDS

1. CAPABILITY

In case of shade net, required shade factor can be achieved by

a) Color of the net i.e. green, black, green/black etc.

b) Level of pigmentation i.e. light or dark

b) Knitting Pattern i.e. Single / Double / Triple Lock, Tape X Tape, Mono X Mono or Mono X Tape with different gauges and coarse per inch.

d) Texture of the fabric i.e. Free or Flat

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In market 70 to 80 GSM nets are available for 50% shade

factor instead of 95 GSM.

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Like wise GSM can be produced with different knitting patterns.

Standard should be able to standardize above factors.

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2. QUALITY

Farmers have developed their own understanding of quality and methods of assessing the quality for example they assess the shade factor by seeing through the net.

They have understanding that stiff nets are good. In fact stiffness can be easily achieved by adding reprocess material.

Farmers assess quality of mulch film by pressing finger and no reference values for dart/Micron are available.

Manufacturers fail to suggest best quality net suitable for a particular crop.

Colour of the net and mulch film also plays an important role to increase productivity and quality of the crop. Standards have to address these issues.

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Sustainable agriculture depends on the sustained performance of

Agro textiles used. Sustained performance of almost all Agro

textile products depend on

1. Their UV resistance.

2. Installation Methods

3. Quality of raw material

UV resistance properties, structural requirements with respect

dimensions, quality of structural material, various clamping

methods, civil work requirements etc. and quality of raw materials

need to be standardized.

Standards to address these issues.

3. SUSTAINABILITY

A step ahead

Specifications / guidelines / code of practices can be developed for total solutions - those include product specifications, structural requirements, installation and laying methods etc. (Although some manufacturers and government organizations are doing this)

Considering the Indian climatic conditions and various geographical locations, standards can be developed for colored shade nets suitable for different crops.

Vermi composting process can be standardized.11

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Major Challenges

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1. Awareness and training of the manufacturers and end users.

Concluding remarks… Standards for very important Agro textile products like

shade nets are yet to be published. Standards should focus on total solution. Raw material needs to be standardized. Standard should protect the interest of genuine

manufacturers. Standards should also consider Indian climatic conditions

and geographic locations.

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Thank You!

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