Role of Polyhouse Technology in Mitigating Climate Risks for Floriculture

Abstract

Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity, particularly in sectors like floriculture that rely heavily on favorable environmental conditions. In this context, polyhouse technology emerges as a promising solution for mitigating climate risks faced by floriculture farmers. Polyhouses provide a controlled environment that shields crops from extreme weather events, temperature fluctuations, and excessive rainfall, thereby reducing the vulnerability of floriculture production to climate variability. This paper reviews the role of polyhouse technology in climate risk mitigation for floriculture farmers. It examines how polyhouses help in maintaining optimal growing conditions, including temperature, humidity, and light intensity, throughout the year. By regulating these environmental factors, polyhouses enable year-round cultivation of high-value flower crops, offering farmers a stable income stream despite external climate fluctuations. Furthermore, the study explores the economic and environmental benefits associated with polyhouse-based floriculture systems. It analyses the cost-effectiveness of polyhouse construction and operation, considering factors such as energy consumption, water usage, and crop yield. Additionally, the environmental sustainability of polyhouse technology, including its potential to reduce pesticide and fertilizer usage, is discussed. The paper also highlights the challenges and limitations of adopting polyhouse technology in floriculture farming, including initial investment costs, technical expertise requirements, and market access issues. Strategies for overcoming these barriers, such as government subsidies, capacity building programs, and market linkages, are proposed. The polyhouse technology can play a climate-resilient solution for floriculture farmers, offering opportunities for increased productivity, income stability, and environmental sustainability in the face of climate change.