NRI INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND

ENGINEERING

PROJECT: COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

TOPIC: HORTICULTURE

DURATION:

PARTICIPANTS: 20KP1A05A2-T.SAI CHANDRA

20KP1A05A5-V.DHYANA MALIKA
20KP1A05A1-T.SK.MOULALI

GUIDE:

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT:

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

Community service is work done by a person or group of people that
benefits others. It is often done near the area where you live, so your own
community reaps the benefits of your work. You do not get paid to perform
community service, though sometimes food and small gifts, like a t-shirt, are
given to volunteers.

Community service can help any group of people in need: children, senior
citizens, people with disabilities, English language learners, and more. It can also
help animals, such as those at a shelter, and it can be used to improve places,
such as a local park, historic building, or scenic area as well. Community service
is often organized through a local group, such as a place of worship, school,
or non-profit organization. You can also start your own community service
projects.

Some students are required to complete community service as part of a class

requirement in order to graduate high school or become a member of certain
organizations, such as the National Honor Society. Adults can also participate in
community service as a way to help others or if they are ordered to do so by a
judge.

India is the seventh largest country in the world with a total geographical area
of 328.73 m ha. and has second largest population 121crores (2011), after
China. The total arable land available is 144 million hectare of which 70% is
under rainfed cultivation. Around 55-60 per cent of the total population
depends on agriculture and allied activities. Horticulture crops constitute a
significant portion of total agricultural production in the country.
The term Horticulture is derived from the Latin words: “hortus” meaning
garden and “cultura” meaning cultivation. In ancient days the gardens had
protected enclosures with high walls or similar structures surrounding the
houses. The enclosed places were used to grow fruit, vegetables, flowers and
ornamental plants. Therefore, in original sense “Horticulture refers to
cultivation of garden plants within protected enclosures”.
At present the horticulture may be defined as the science and technique of
production, processing and merchandizing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices,
plantations, medicinal and aromatic plants.

Features of Horticulture
1. Horticultural produces are mostly utilized in the fresh state and are highly
perishable.
2. Horticultural crops need intensive cultivation requiring a large input of
capital, labour and technology per unit area.
3. Cultural operations like propagation, training, pruning and harvesting are
skilled and specific to horticultural crops.
4. Horticultural produce are rich sources of vitamins and minerals and
alkaloids.
5. Aesthetic gratification is an exclusive phenomenon to horticultural science.

Importance of Horticulture:
Horticulture is important for the following considerations:
1. As a source of variability in produce.
2. As a source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, flavour, aroma, alkaloids,
oleoresins, fibre, etc.
3. As a source of medicine.
4. As an economic proposition as they give higher returns per unit area in
terms of energy, money, job, etc.
5. Employment generation 860 man days/annum for fruit crops as against 143
man days/annum for cereal crops and the crops like grapes, banana and
pineapple need 1000- 2500 man days per annum.
6. Effective utilization of waste land through cultivation of hardy fruits and
medicinal plants.
7. As a substitute of family income being component of home garden.
8. As a foreign exchange earner, has higher share compare to agriculture crops.
9. As an input for industry being amenable to processing, especially fruit and
vegetable preservation industry.
10. Aesthetic consideration and protection of environment.
11. Religious significance.

In brief it can be stated that horticulture has great scope for the following
reasons:
1. To exploit great variability of agro climatic conditions.
2. To meet the need for fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, beverages in
relation to population growth based on minimum nutritional and other needs.
3. To meet the requirement of processing industry.
4. To substitute import and increase export.
5. To improve the economic conditions of the farmers and to engage more
labourers to avert the problem of unemployment.
6. To protect environment.
Vegetable crops:
More than 40 vegetables belonging to Solanaceaeous, cucurbitaceous,
leguminous, cruciferous, root crops and leafy vegetables are grown in Indian
tropical , subtropical and temperate regions. Important vegetables grown in
India are onion, tomato, potato, brinjal, peas, beans, okra, chilli, cabbage,
cauliflower, bottle gourd, cucumber, watermelon, carrot, radish etc. India
ranks second in vegetable production next to China in area and production
contributing 13.38 percent to the total world production. India occupies first
position in cauliflower, second in Onion, third in cabbage in the world. West
Bengal, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka are the important
states for horticultural crop production.
Scope of Horticulture Like any other things, scope of horticulture depends on
incentive it has for the farmers, adaptability of the crops, necessity and
facilities for future growth through inputs availability and infrastructure for the
distribution of produce/marketing etc.
More than 40 kinds of vegetables belonging to different groups, namely,
solanaceous, cucurbitaceous, leguminous, cruciferous (cole crops), root crops
and leafy vegetables are grown in India in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate
regions. Important vegetable crops grown in the country are tomato, onion,
brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, okra and peas. India is next only to China in area
and production of vegetables. India contributes 13.38 per cent to the world
vegetable production and occupies first position in the production of
cauliflower, second in onion and third in cabbage in the world. The estimated
cropwise area and production of major vegetables during 1991-92 and 1998-
99 is given in Table 2.4. The present area is estimated at 5.87 million ha with a
production of 87.53 million tonnes and average productivity of 14.9 tonnes per
ha. West Bengal, U.P., Orissa, Bihar and Maharashtra are reported to be major
vegetable growing states contributing 18.49.
Tomato:
Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops grown across the length
and breadth of the country. The area under tomato cultivation is 0.466 million
ha with a production of 8.271 million tonnes contributing 7.95 and 9.45 per
cent of total area and production respectively. Major tomato growing states
are Bihar, Karnataka, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The average
productivity of tomato is 17.7t/ha.
Brinjal:
Brinjal is the second major vegetable crop and is grown almost throughout the
country. It covers an area of 0.496 million ha with a total production of 7.881
million tonnes contributing 8.45 per cent and 9 per cent respectively of the
total area and production of vegetables respectively. Major brinjal growing
states are West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar. The average productivity of brinjal is
15.9 t/ ha.
Cabbage:
Cabbage is the third major vegetable crop primarily grown in the winter
season. Total area under cabbage cultivation in India is 0.24 million ha with a
production of 5.624 million tonnes accounting for 4.10 and 6.42 per cent of
total area and production respectively. Major cabbage growing states are West
Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Assam and Karnataka. The average productivity of
cabbage has risen (1991-92 to 1998-99) to 23.4 tonnes per ha as a result of
popularization of F1 hybrids.
Industry regulation Certain industrial premises with significant potential to
cause emissions and discharges to air, land or water are known as ‘prescribed
premises’ and trigger regulation under the EP Act. The EP Act requires a works
approval to be obtained before constructing a prescribed premise and a
licence or registration to operate the premises. The prescribed premises
categories are outlined in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection
Regulations 1987 (EP Regulations). Contact the local DER office in the first
instance, where a landholder’s facility is responsible for emissions or
discharges to the environment. Proposals for horticulture or other intensive
agriculture close to environmentally sensitive areas may be referred to DER by
DAFWA, the LGA or DoW. These proposals may require special management to
protect those areas and in some (usually exceptional) cases, assessment by the
EPA.
Onion :
Onion is the fourth most important commercial vegetable crop covering an
area of 0.481 million ha with a production of 5.461 million tonnes contributing
8.19 per cent of the area and 6.24 per cent of the production. The major onion
producing state is Gujarat followed by Mahrashtra and Karnataka. Onion has
three major seasons of harvest i.e. Kharif, Late Kharif and Rabi. More than 60
per cent production comes from Rabi crop and rest from the other two
seasons.
Cauliflower:
Cauliflower is the fifth most important vegetable crop of the country primarily
grown in the winter season. It is grown over an area of 0.255 million ha with a
production of 4.691 million tonnes contributing 4.35 and 5.36 per cent of the
total area and production, respectively. With a wide range of heat tolerant
varieties, cauliflower can now be grown virtually all over the country. The
average productivity of cauliflower has risen from 14.8 to 18.4 t/ha during
1991-92 to 1998-99.
 Okra:
Okra is the sixth important vegetable crop cultivated throughout the country
for its immature fruits for cooking. Area and production under okra is 0.326
million ha and 3.380 million tonnes respectively. It contributes 5.50 and 3.86
per cent of total area and production, respectively. Productivity of okra which
was 4.6 t/ha during 1987-88 has increased considerably to 10.40 t/ha in 1998-
99 after the development and introduction of yellow vein mosaic resistant
varieties for commercial cultivation in different regions of the country.

Pea:
Pea occupies a very special position because of its importance both as a
vegetable and a pulse crop. It is grown over an area of 0.282 million ha with a
production of about 2.704 million tonnes which comes to 4.81 and 3.09 per
cent of total area and production, respectively. The average productivity of pea
has risen from 7.3 t/ha to 9.6 t/ha during 1991-92 to 1998-99.
Potato:
India ranks 5th in area and production of potato with 22.494 million tonnes
from 1.28 million ha in 1998-99.Potato is grown in India in almost all the states
under diverse conditions. Nearly 90 per cent of the potato is grown in the vast
Indo-gangetic plains of north India during short winter days from October to
March. About 6 per cent of area under potato cultivation is in the hills, where
the crop is grown during long summer days of April-October.Plateau region of
south-eastern, central and peninsular 25 India constitutes about 4 per cent
area where potato is grown as a rainfed kharif crop during (July-October) or as
irrigated rabi crop during (October-March). The states of U.P., West Bengal and
Bihar account for nearly 71 per cent of the area and 76 per cent of the
production. In Nilgiris and Palani hills of Tamil Nadu, the crop is grown round
the year both as irrigated and rainfed crop covering an area of about 4000 ha.
The crop is also grown in of Darjeeling hills. The improved varieties grown are
Kufri Jyothi, Kufri Jawahar, Kufri Giriraj, Kufri Pukharaj, Kufri Chipsona-1 and
Kufri Chipsona-2.
Tuber Crops :
Tuber crops are most important food crops after cereals, grains and legumes.
There are 15 different tuber producing crop species grown in our country.
These include the two major crops cassava and sweet potato; aroid species
e.g., colocacia, amorphophallus, xanthosomas, alocacia and cytosperma sp.;
three yams e.g., lesser, greater and white yam and five minor tuber crops e.g.,
yam bean, coleus, arrowroots etc. These crops have the potential to produce
more food per unit area and are drought tolerant and adapted to marginal
lands.
Cassava has been an important crop in South India as a staple food. While
changes in dietary habits have been noticed, its industrial use particularly for
starch and sago products has been increasing. The area under cassava is
estimated at 0.245 million ha with a production of 5.868 million tonnes and
has been more or less stable since 1976.
Functions of fruits and vegetables in human body:
1. Fruits and vegetables provide palatability, taste, improves appetite and
provides fibre thereby the constipation can be overcome.
2. They neutralize the acids produced during digestion of proteins and fatty
acids.
3. They improve the general immunity of human body against diseases,
deficiencies etc.
4. They are the important source of vitamins and minerals for used in several
bio-chemical reactions occur in body.
The Salem belt of Tamil Nadu and the Smalkot belt of Andhra Pradesh are
known for cassava cultivation as an industrial crop. The important varieties of
cassava are Sree Visakham, sree Harsha and H-165. The area and production of
sweet potato has been dwindling because of competition from cereals.
Mushroom:
Mushroom production in India had a beginning in late Sixties in Himachal
Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Commercial mushroom cultivation and
production, however, is of comparatively recent origin. In early nineties,
several export oriented units were put up by corporate houses with the use of
advanced technology for mushroom growing. The total production of
mushrooms is 40,000 tonnes as per details given in table 2.6.

Majorities of the commercial units are ‘Export Oriented Units’ and grow white button
mushroom, which has maximum acceptability in domestic, and export market both in fresh
and canned form. Oyster (Pleurotus) mushroom cultivation is confined to small and
marginal mushroom growers in tropical and sub tropical areas and the produce is sold
fresh/dehydrated in the local market. Oyster mushroom is gaining popularity because of its
adaptability to wider range of temperature e.g. 20o -30o C, simple cultivation practices with
minimum infrastructure facilities as compared to the requirements of white button
mushroom cultivation.

Volvariella, the tropical paddy straw mushroom is grown in hot/humid areas of

peninsular India and is also popular in southern coastal areas, particularly in
states of Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and Tamil Nadu, where temperature is
suitable for its cultivation all the year round. It has a very short shelf life and is
consumed in its local area of production. The production of mushrooms has till
recently been in the unorganized sector.

With the increased awareness on the nutritive value of mushroom, importance

of their export potential and advances in their production technology,
mushroom production has picked up in the organised sector during the last
two decades. Fruits and vegetables play an important role in the balanced diet
of human beings by providing not only the energy rich food but also promise
vital protective nutrients. In order to make available the requisite quantity and
kind of fresh fruit and vegetables every day to a family, it is better to have a
nutrition garden to grow them in the house premises.
Do you need to clear land?
Permits from the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) and potentially
your LGA are required to clear land. It is important to investigate the legalities
and environmental impact of any land clearing before planning further
development. Information on land clearing, including application forms, fact
sheets and guides can be found on the DER website. In reviewing proposals,
the principles contained in Schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act
1986 (EP Act) and also any planning instrument or other relevant matter are
considered. The clearing principles consider environmental impacts on
biodiversity values, water quality and land degradation. Clearing that
significantly impacts on the environment is generally not supported. The DER
native vegetation fact sheet 1 Native vegetation clearing legislation in Western
Australia, outlines the intent of the clearing legislation in more detail.
Do you need to drain or pump water to manage salinity or waterlogging?
Landholders intending to drain or pump groundwater for the purpose of
controlling salinity must submit a ‘notice of intent to drain’ application to the
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) at least 90
days before the commencement of works. Landholders within the Peel-Harvey
Catchment must notify DAFWA for any works involving the draining of surface
water or groundwater. The notification process allows for an assessment of the
proposed works and ensures neighbouring landholders and affected public
authorities have an opportunity to comment on the proposal. DAFWA will
generally object to works likely to cause onsite or offsite land degradation.
Failure to give notice is an offence and can expose the offender to an offence
of causing serious or material environmental harm.
Do you have access to water?
Scheme water is usually too expensive to use for commercial horticulture.
Water sourced from a bore, soak, stream, dam or irrigation scheme is often
required. The amount of water you can access will determine the type of crop
you can grow and/or the area of crop you can plant. You need to know how
much water you can access in total each year. Licences that allow you to take
water from non-scheme sources in proclaimed areas, irrigation districts and
prescribed areas are allocated by the Department of Water (DoW) under the
Rights in Water and Irrigation Act (RIWI Act) 1914. Water all are calculated
according to the area of land planted, crop type, local evaporation rates and
water resource availability in the area.

How much water does the crop require?

How much water a crop requires each day throughout the year will determine
the area of crop you can plant using the available water. DAFWA has
developed an online irrigation calculator to help determine monthly and
annual crop water requirements. The calculator provides information on a
range of crops under different management strategies or seasonal planting
scenarios at 14 locations throughout WA. The total amount of water required
is calculated using recent historical weather data and the evaporation
replacement requirement of specific crops, called ‘crop factors’, with
adjustments made for planting date, soil type, irrigation system and efficiency.

What is the quality of the available water?

Water quality affects the type of crops you can grow, the type of irrigation
system and filtering systems you require and how you manage your irrigation.
Can your water source deliver enough water during peak demand periods?
Peak daily water requirements occur in most crops when evaporation rates are
at their highest during summer or the dry season. If a crop’s water
requirements are not met each day, quality and yield will decline. To produce
economical yields and marketable quality produce, climatic conditions must
match crop requirements. Climatic conditions, such as light availability,
evaporation rates, wind conditions, rainfall, temperature and the frequency of
frosts and heat waves, impact on crop growth and the amount of water
needed during peak demand periods. You need to know how much water your
water source can deliver per hour and per day during peak demand. If the
irrigation system cannot supply the volumes required on a peak demand day,
consider planting a smaller area or a crop with lower water requirements.
Keep in mind it is more economical to plant a smaller area and meet peak
water requirements than it is to plant a larger area and water-stress the crop.
Design the irrigation system to meet peak water requirement days. To
calculate the peak water requirement for a 24-hour period select the highest
daily evaporation figure for the January–February period, then multiply this by
the appropriate crop factor for the crop in these months. This will give you the
amount of water in millimetres that needs to be irrigated onto the ground in a
24-hour period. Check if your irrigation system can deliver this amount of
water for the total crop area on the farm.

Are the soil and site conditions suitable?

Soil type and site conditions will influence the type of crop you can grow
and/or the management techniques required to grow the crop successfully.
Before considering what type of crop to grow, thoroughly inspect the site and
soil. A survey of the site in a 75m x 75m grid is recommended; more intensive
surveys can be undertaken if time and money permit. Soil survey holes are
generally dug to 1.5m deep, preferably with a backhoe. At each site record the
following parameters — soil texture (including stone and/or gravel content),
depth of each soil layer, soil structure, presence of compaction and impeding
layers, soil pH, soil salinity and sodicity.
Other things to look for include soil nutrient-holding capacity, acid sulphate
soils, water repellence, saline patches, rocky outcrops, soil erosion, shallow
watertables, flood-susceptibility, slope, access, water courses, weed
infestation, herbicide resistance and residues, and plant diseases. Aerial maps
of many agricultural areas throughout the state are available from Landgate.
Soil and land capability maps are available from DAFWA. These maps give a
general overview of the different soil types that may occur on the land area
and their suitability for horticulture. In addition to these maps, more detailed
investigations of soils by professional surveyors are also recommended.
Budgets and marketing:
Do you know when to harvest and what yield to expect? Knowing when to
harvest and what yield to expect allows you to estimate labour requirements
and potential income. For perennial crops, the time taken for plants to
produce their first crop and the time taken to reach maximum levels of
production vary depending on variety, rootstock (if applicable), management
practices and climate. The seasonal timing of harvest and expected yields are
influenced by the same factors. For annual crops, the time taken for each crop
to reach maturity depends on variety, management practices and climate.
Information on expected harvest timing and yields can be gathered from
industry publications, websites, field days, conferences and workshops
associated with a particular crop or industry. It is also worthwhile joining a
growers’ association and talking to seed merchants, consultants and DAFWA
staff.
Do you have access to labour to meet the requirements for pruning,
harvesting, sorting and packing?
 In many cases you and your family will not be able to do all the work. A lack of
labour often results in lower crop yields and quality.

What are the production costs and what income can you expect?
A detailed budget allows you to assess the profitability of an enterprise and
compare it with other enterprises. A budget can provide important
information, such as how vulnerable an enterprise is to price or yield
decreases, how much money you need to borrow and when, and when you
can expect to break even. It is wise to invest in an agricultural consultant who
can work out a budget for each crop of interest.

Is there a market for the crop and what price can you expect to get for it?
Market research reveals what people want, when they want it and how much
they will pay for a product. This information helps identify the expected
returns from a crop produced in a given area. You may also like to identify a
point of difference for your product as this can help with marketing (for
example, organically-grown or from a certain region).

Market research should identify:

• the size of a market and how sensitive it is to increased volumes of
production
• competition and prices in the market at the time your crop is ready for
harvest
• how vulnerable the product is to price fluctuations
• supply chain analysis including transport and freight costs, one of the biggest
considerations adding to production costs in WA
• the minimum amount of crop you need to produce to meet market demand
for consistent volume; you may also need to be able to produce a minimum
volume before a buyer will consider you as a supplier
• varieties and/or quality specifications preferred by consumers.
This information can be gathered from:
• DAFWA Trade Development branch (for export markets) and Food and
Agribusiness Development branch (for local markets)
• online resources with import and export statistics and detailed market
research reports, such as Global Trade Information Service, Euromonitor
International, Business Monitor International and Perth Market Authority
(Market City perthmarket.com.au) and agents within the markets • industry
field days, conferences, meetings and workshops and by joining a growers’
association
• horticultural/agricultural newspapers and magazines.

Have you considered organic farming?

Organic products represent a business option for producers and processors,
based on strong consumer trends in both domestic and export markets. The
term organic refers to a ‘method of production’ where techniques and inputs
permitted are defined by organic standards and verified by an organic
certification scheme. Organic production prohibits the use of products or by-
products derived from genetically modified (GM) organisms. Conversion from
conventional to organic typically takes three years, although a product can be
sold labeled as ‘in-conversion’ organic after one year of compliance. If you are
considering becoming an organic producer, carefully assess the technical
feasibility and commercial viability of organic conversion before embarking on
formal organic certification.
The major issue:
water availability Is there enough water for your plants? The amount of water
available, and its quality, will decide what you can grow and how much you can
plant. It is not economically viable to grow horticultural crops commercially on
scheme water. The first thing to do, before buying land, is to ensure there is a
source of sufficient high-quality water from a bore, dam or soak to irrigate your
crop. Given the high evaporation rates, crop water requirements and
variability of rainfall, irrigation is essential for most commercial horticultural
developments. Water dictates a plant’s growth rate, planting density, yields
and greatly influences fruit and flower quality.
It should not make any difference to the market if you start production today
or in two years time. However, spending two years researching and planning
before starting production can make a significant difference to the future
success of a horticultural enterprise and your financial situation. It can even be
the difference between success and failure.

In areas where there is no established horticulture, time is required to:

• Research the most suitable varieties and obtain sufficient quantities to plant
on a commercial scale.
• Gather data on the time of production, yields, quality produced and the
relevant markets.
 • Assess the potential pest and disease hazards (soil types and location are
important factors).
• Become familiar with the different production methods and select one
suitable to the local conditions and/or your budget.
• Make an informed decision based on sound research and integrating the
latest technology.
• Assess whether there is a chance the enterprise will be profitable (or if you
will go broke).

Assuming you have enough water to grow horticultural crops commercially

(read Water 2.1, below), you will need to undertake market research and find
out what consumers want to buy and at what price (read Markets 2.2, page
20). After producing a list of crops with reasonable market prospects, study the
climate in your area and rule out those crops that will not successfully grow
locally (read Climate 2.3, page 22). More crops will be erased from the list
when land, labour (read Labour 2.4, page 23) and cash flow requirements are
considered. The final decision will be taken after estimating the returns
produced by the different crops.

Water quality Pool servicing businesses, bore drillers or chemical laboratories

can test water salinity levels. Take water samples in the middle or end of
summer as groundwater salinity often varies according to seasons and years
and the highest salt levels are usually at the end of summer. Table 1 shows a
list of commercial crops that can tolerate a range of salt levels. Table 1
Tolerance of common plants to total salts in irrigation water.
Water quantity After confirming water quality, make sure there is enough
water to irrigate mature plants during the hottest period of the growing
season. Crops vary in their water needs throughout the year and their growth
cycle. Some crops can be grown in the cooler months in the south-west with
little need for irrigation at all. For example, during summer, an orange tree at
Wokalup, measuring 3–4m across, will easily consume 100L/day. On average,
during January, a 1ha orange orchard at Wokalup with 500 to 600 trees will
require about 50 000 to 60 000L/ day. Under extreme conditions, this may
increase by 50%. In another example, rockmelons, which do not require much
water per day when young, require on average 85 000L/day/ha during their
peak flowering time in January. On a hot, windy day, with 41oC and easterly
winds, the same rockmelons may require 120 000 to 160 000L/ha of water
depending on the growth stage. Table 2 shows the average irrigation
requirements (kL/y/ha) for a number of selected crops at three different
growing locations.

Planting material Purchase healthy, disease-free planting material and plant

varieties that suit the local climate and/or seasons. It takes the same amount
of time, water, land and money to look after poorly-performing and/or
unsuitable plants as it takes to look after a healthy crop. Suitable varieties
naturally produce more high-quality fruit while unsuitable varieties can
produce unsaleable fruits (split, too small, immature, etc.) or no fruit at all. It is
better to spend some time, even years if necessary, to research and/or obtain
planting material suited to your climate rather than planting whatever is
available or being promoted in other areas with a different climate. When
ordering stock (tube stock/plant material) from eastern Australia, remember
that it will be subject to quarantine inspection, so if you are planning on hiring
staff for planting allow extra time in the event plants are delayed in
quarantine.

Overview This section is intended to provide landholders with information to

increase their understanding of their rights and obligations in owning land and
the various legislative controls that exist in developing and operating land use
activities. The information has been compiled and condensed from various
sources. This section is for guidance only and it is advisable to seek advice from
the relevant government agencies listed within each sub-section. Contact
details for relevant government agencies are enclosed at the rear of this
section.
Some of the information contained within this section includes:
• outline of relevant legislation
• application requirements
• overview of application process and decision-making powers
• appeal rights. If you intend to buy land to develop, and the new land-use
activity requires any of the approvals mentioned within this section, it would
be wise to make sure there is sufficient time allowed in the Offer and
Acceptance form to enable you to have a reasonable assurance that you will be
able to undertake your venture, and to cover any necessary approval
processes.
Planning controls
summary of controls :
Ensure all activities undertaken are in accordance with the requirements of the
LGAs local planning scheme. Seek early guidance from your LGA office if
considering undertaking any development or land use change, so all necessary
requirements can be determined. 1.2 Application Local government is
responsible for developing local planning strategies and local planning
schemes.
Local planning strategies set out an LGAs broad vision, overall strategy and
rationale for development controls and other provisions for land use and
development, including rural land use and settlement. Local planning schemes
are statutory documents supported by the Planning and Development Act
2005 that help LGAs achieve their municipal land use planning objectives. The
schemes are prepared for all or part of the municipality and must be reviewed
every five years by the LGA.
The schemes can be amended and land rezoned during their operation to
capture changing municipality needs. District and town planning schemes are
the most common local planning scheme for LGAs. These schemes use the
concept of zoning to identify and allocate land for various purposes. Controls
are established to ensure land is used for the intended purpose based on
issues such as compatibility, equity and/or efficiency.
A key or ‘use class table’ indicates the uses permitted within particular zones.
‘Use class tables’ contain cross-referencing systems that define the procedures
used to assess the permissibility of an intended land use in a development
application.
The ‘model scheme text’, prepared by the DoP, guides the content and format
of local planning schemes. This includes recommended names for zones
including agricultural zones and land use definitions including those for
agricultural uses.
Application Clearing permit applications under the EP Act can be downloaded
from the DER website. In reviewing proposals, the principles contained in
Schedule 5 of the EP Act and also any planning instrument or other relevant
matter are considered. The clearing principles consider environmental impacts
on biodiversity values, water quality and land degradation. Clearing that
significantly impacts on the environment is generally not supported.
The DER native vegetation fact sheet 1 Native vegetation clearing legislation in
Western Australia outlines the intent of the clearing legislation in more detail.
Certain items under the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native
Vegetation) Regulations 2004 only exempt clearing to the extent that the total
combined clearing under any of these exemptions does not exceed one
hectare in any financial year. This means if you clear under one or more of the
following items, the total area cleared for all of these purposes may not add up
to more than one hectare in a financial year.
There are a number of areas where the exemptions under the Clearing
Regulations do not apply. These areas are environmentally sensitive areas
(ESA) declared by the Minister under section 51B of the EP Act. If you want to
clear native vegetation in an ESA for one of the purposes under the Clearing
Regulations, you need to apply for a clearing permit.
Generally, a crop’s water requirement per day depends on evaporation, crop
type, crop age and growth stage (flowering, fruit setting, etc.). It is essential to
know how much water can be continuously extracted per hour from the water
source and ensure you can meet the peak requirement of the crop.

If a bore does not yield enough water per hour to supply the crop, you may
have to use a windmill to pump slowly, but continuously, from the bore into a
reservoir to protect the water source. The water from the reservoir can then
be pumped out as 19 Horticulture HOME required. Excessive pumping from
bores has often resulted in salty water intrusion, making the water too
brackish for commercial horticultural crop production. In summer, to irrigate
1ha (2.5 acres) you may need access to more than 100 000L/day. Water – units
of measuremenent.

Handling and applying chemicals 9.1 Summary of controls Agricultural and

Related Resources Protection (Spraying Restrictions) Regulations 1979. Applies
only to hormone-type herbicides applied in the Swan Valley, an area around
Geraldton, the Ord River Irrigation Area and areas within 5 or 10km of
commercial vineyards or tomato crops. The aim of the Regulation is to protect
prescribed agricultural crops from damage from prescribed herbicides by
restricting storage, transport and use of these herbicides within prescribed
distances from the crops.
Application An owner or occupier of land must complete a Notice of Intent
(Form 2 in Schedule 2 of the Regulations) and lodge it with the Commissioner
for Soil and Land Conservation at least 90 days before starting the notifiable
drainage activity.
Notices will require information relating to:
• area of land to be drained or pumped
• where the water is to be drained or pumped to
• period of draining/pumping activity
• map of the proposal. If you plan to pump or drain water to control salinity
you are also required to seek the endorsement of any downstream user that
may be affected by the proposal

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