Protected cultivation technology: Its role in vegetable crop production and livelihood improvement – A review

Abstract Horticulture, as a vital subset of agriculture, constitutes a cornerstone of global food security. However, vegetable crop production and productivity are impeded by a multitude of factors, including climate change, pest infestations, constrained land availability, and suboptimal soil fertility. Moreover, horticultural commodities, primarily vegetables and fruits, are predominantly produced within specific seasonal windows, resulting in limited availability during off-seasons. Therefore, precision agriculture, such as protected cultivation technologies, is imperative to augment productivity and ensure year-round availability of produce. Despite their potential, the global understanding of protected cultivation’s role in vegetable production remains limited, primarily due to its status as an emerging technology with relatively low dissemination. This review synthesizes the existing literature to elucidate the role of protected cultivation systems such as polyhouses, polytunnels, shade nets, net houses, and walk-in tunnels, etc., on vegetable crop productivity and farmers’ livelihoods. Research shows that protected technologies can enhance crop yields by three to fivefold, depending upon crop type and system employed, while simultaneously improving produce quality. Furthermore, protected cultivation facilitates year-round production, mitigates abiotic stress, and optimize the utilization of nutrients, water, temperature, CO 2 , and light intensity. Indeed, adopting protected vegetable cultivation technology ensures overall crop productivity and generates better income for farmers, although it is costly and requires skill. Therefore, this review underscores the critical need for strategic dissemination and capacity building to leverage protected cultivation as a sustainable solution for enhancing vegetable production and rural livelihoods.