Tunnel farming involves constructing greenhouse-like structures covered in plastic to protect summer crops from cold winter temperatures. These structures, called tunnels, serve as cocoons for growing vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and carrots. The tunnels trap heat and fool crops into thinking it is a different season, extending the growing period. Three main types of tunnels are used - low, walk-in, and high tunnels. Low tunnels are simplest but yield less. Walk-in tunnels provide higher yields than low tunnels at moderate cost. High tunnels maximize yields but are most expensive. The controlled environment of tunnels allows year-round production of summer crops and higher profits for farmers.

1. Tunnel
Technology By
Allah Dad
Khan

3. Introduction:
1. Growing out-of- season crops in controlled
atmosphere inside polythene tunnels is called
Tunnel Farming. In Pakistan, this kind of farming is
normally adopted for off-season cultivation of
summer vegetables.
2. As it is not possible to grow summer vegetable in
open fields from December to February due to low
temperature and high frost levels, so these are
grown inside polythene tunnels so that proper
atmosphere may be given to plants for their
maximum growth and yield.
3. Because of controlled atmosphere, Tunnel farming
is the source of higher yields and earlier production,
and this earlier and quality produce gives good
profits to farmers.
4. For this reason, modern and progressive farmers of
Pakistan are adopting this advance mode of farming

4. Tunnel Farming for Off season Vegetables
Tunnel farming is the only way to get off-season
production of summer vegetables. Tunnel farming
involves constructing tunnels like Greenhouses
i.e. hut-like structures swathed in plastic that
serve as cocoons for growing cucumber, tomato,
pepper, carrot and lettuce etc. In addition to
summer vegetables, production of strawberry
inside tunnels has also become very popular in
the recent years.

5. Basic Idea of Tunnel Farming
 The idea of tunnel farming is to shield the crops
from the elements and trap the heat of the sun,
extending the growing season and increasing
production. Tunnel farming is gaining acceptance
among educated farmers as it provides them with
an opportunity to save the input resources by
using less than 40 per cent water, fertilizer and
other resources under controlled conditions.
Through tunnel farming, it is possible to
overcome the three main impediments that
impact agricultural growth: chronic water
shortages, low yield per acre and low value of
crop production.

6. Principle of Tunnel Farming
 Tunnel farming operates on the principle that of
creating conditions during winter that are equivalent to
those in summers. The vegetables sown in summer
are then cultivated in these tunnels during winter. The
entire farming area is covered by transparent
polythene sheath fixed over D-shaped
Bamboo/steel/aluminum pipes. The soil/growing
media is also covered with black colored polythene
sheath with small holes in which the seeds are sown.
The sunlight during the day passes through
transparent polythene sheath and is absorbed by the
black sheath spread over the soil/growing media. This
raises the temperature to desired level inside the
tunnel. The plastic sheet on the soil serves three
purposes: i) First it traps heat, ii) it reduces water loss
and iii) it eliminates growth of weeds enormously.

7. Things to remember before start:
 Prior to start off-season vegetable cultivation in
tunnels, the investor must have practical
knowledge about farming.
 Soil and water quality of the farming site should
be tested before start.
 Self-pollinated plants should be grown.
 Recommended seed should be used.
 Farmer must have complied and critically
analyzed market in formation to earn high profit.

8. Benefits/Objectives of Tunnel
Technology
 To introduce intensive cultivation per unit area.
 To get maximum output/unit area.
 To get production as per market demand.
 To minimize the environmental Hazards.
 To increase the life span and production ability of the
plants.
 To promote vertical cultivation to enhance quality and
quantity of the produce and to lessen the area availability
issues.
 To get 3-5 times more production as compared to that
taken in an open field.
 To fetch higher price of produce because of its early
availability in the market.
 To save the input resources like water, fertilizer and Time
& space.
 To manage the crops in controlled and comparatively easy
conditions.

9. Suggestions for Successful
production:
 Always keep the direction of the tunnel from East to West for better temperature gains
inside the tunnel.
 Always use good quality seed.
 For cucumber, use Parthinocarpic variety seed.
 For tomato, use indeterminate variety seed.
 Use fertile soil and maintain its fertility during throughout the season.
 Always grow more profitable vegetables as per market survey.
 Protect seed of cucumber from rodents and insects till its germination.
 Irrigate in morning and evening or as per expert’s advice according to the
growing/atmospheric conditions inside your tunnel farm.
 All plants are tied up with rope.
 Prune the plants particularly three nodes at initial stage.
 Use minimum quantity of farm yard manure for cucumber as compared to sweet
pepper and tomato crops.
 Use drip irrigation for economic irrigation and fertilizer application.
 To avoid germination of weed, use black mulch into the growing bed.
 Apply proper pesticide at proper time to control the insects or fungi.
 Smoking is strictly prohibited inside Tunnel as it may cause a quick spread viral
diseases throughout the tunnel.

10. What is Tunnel Technology Tunnel Farming
 Growing out-of- season crops in controlled atmosphere inside polythene
tunnels is called Tunnel Farming.
 In Pakistan, this kind of farming is normally adopted for off-season
cultivation of summer vegetables.
 As it is not possible to grow summer vegetable in open fields from
December to February due to low temperature and high frost levels, so
these are grown inside polythene tunnels Tunnel farming is the only way
to get off-season production of summer vegetables.
 Tunnel farming involves constructing tunnels like Greenhouses i.e. hut-
like structures swathed in plastic that serve as cocoons for growing
cucumber, tomato, pepper, carrot and lettuce etc. In addition to summer
vegetables, production of strawberry inside tunnels has also become
very popular in the recent years. so that proper atmosphere may be
given to plants for their maximum growth and yield.
 Because of controlled atmosphere, Tunnel farming is the source of
higher yields and earlier production, and this earlier and quality produce
gives good profits to farmers. For this reason, modern and progressive
farmers of Pakistan are adopting this advance mode of farming at a
faster pace.

11. Plastic Tunnel
Cultivation by this method is gaining popularity
because of low cost and easy usage.Plastic
tunnels are transparent which provides required
sunshine to the plants, and the plastic also plays
a barrier against the cool air in winter

12. Concepts of Tunnel Technology
Tunnel farming involves constructing
greenhouses-hut-like structures swathed in
plastic that serve as cocoons for growing
tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, carrots, strawberries
and bushels of other fruits and vegetables.
The idea of tunnel farming is to shield the crops
from the elements and trap the heat of the sun,
extending the growing season and increasing
production.
“The tunnels provide a microclimate around the
crops that essentially fools them into thinking it is
a different season than it really is,” agriculture
specialist explained.

13. TUNNEL STRUCTUR
It depends upon type of tunnel. If
tunnel is:
- LOW then structure will be different.
- WALKIN then it would be different.
- HIGH then it would be different.

14. TYPE OF TUNNEL
Depends upon:-
1. Crop to be sown.
2. Stature of the crop.
3. Investment capacity.
4. Nature of the crop.
5. Variety to be sown.
6. Management level.

15. Type of tunnel
Veg to be grown Tunnel Type Tunnel Height
Cucumber
Tomato
Bottle gourd
High tunnel 10 to 12 feet
Sweet Pepper
Hot pepper
Walk in tunnel 5 to 6 feet
Sponge gourd
Water melon
Musk melon
Bitter gourd
Bottle gourd
Low tunnel 2.5 to 3 feet

17. Low Tunnel
It is cheaper than high tunnel but creates difficulty
for soil preparation, spraying and picking.The
tunnels are suitable for cucumber sown flat bed,
melons, watermelons, bitter gourds, squashes,
and snake gourds etc. The crop yield in this type
of tunnel ishowever low compared to high tunnels

23. Low Tunnels
 Merits:
 Used to protect vegetables from frost & chilling.
 All types of vegetables can be grown.
 Very cheap
 Very popular in farmers being less expensive.
 Installation is easy& quick.
 Demerits:
− Vegetables can only be early for 20-30 days.
− Production of vegetables and Income is too less than walk in
& high tunnels.
 Crop Management operations i.e spraying, hoeing, fertilizer
application etc are difficult and are conducted by lifting plastic
paper.

24. Low Tunnels
Kinds of structure
ii. Bamboo/Mulberry sticks Structure
− 3’ height from center
− 4-5’ width & 100-200’ length.
− Bamboo or Mulberry of
0.5 to 0.7” dia &10’ long are
bent into half moon shape &
fixed in soil.
− Average life 1 season.
− Very Cheap structure
(Rs. 25-30 thousand/acre)
− Good for heavy wind area.
− Very easy to construct & install.

25. LOW TUNNEL
(5 x 2.5 ft)
Best Material
Steel rods of 6mm dia and 10 feet long
bent in the shape of half moon.
Sticks of different plants can also be
used but often create problems.
Plastic need to be removed at
flowering for pollination.
Make the crop about 1.5 month early.
Problem of weeds if not controlled.
Courtesy: Shadi Farm

26. Walk-in Tunnels
 Walk-in tunnels are lower than the high tunnels
but they are gaining popularity asthey provide
high yield compared to low tunnels. The tunnel is
suitable for growingtomatoes, cucumbers, sweet
pepper and hot pepper.


29. Walk-IN Tunnels
 Merits:
 Best for bushy vegetables i.e sweet/hot peppers, squashes,
Freshbean etc.
 Vine vegetables i.e tomato, cucumber, bitter gourds, spong
gourds etc. can also be grown.
 Relatively less expensive & high profitable.
 Very popular in farmers being less expensive.
 Installation is easy, quick and needs no technical expertise
• Demerits:
− Production of vine vegetables remain less than high tunnels
due to restricted growth.
− Income is also relatively less than high tunnels.
 Management operations i.e spraying, hoeing, plants training
are difficult than high tunnel.

30. Walk-In Tunnels
Kinds of Structure
G.I. Pipe structure
− 6-6.5’ height from center
− 2 to 2.5’ height from sides
− 10-12’ width & 100–200 feet length.
− Made by 1/2” & 3/4’’ dia & 18-20’ long G.I. pipe.
− Average life 10-12 years.
− Less expensive structure
(Rs. 3 to 3.5 Lac/acre)
− Good for heavy wind area.
− Very popular due to low cost
& high profitability.
− Very easy to construct & install.

31. WALK IN TUNNEL
(12 W x 6 ft H)
Best Material
Zn galvanized steel pipes of 0.75 inch
dia and of medium thickness bent in
the shape that it gives 12 ft wide and 6
ft high tunnel. It should be at least 2.5
ft high at the sides.

33. High Tunnel
High tunnel facilitates easy access for soil
preparation, picking and spraying due to itswidth
and height. The crop yield is maximum in this
type of tunnel. The tunnel issuitable for growing
tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers.

34. High Tunnel Technology

45. High Tunnels
Kinds of structure
1. T.R / Angle Iron structure
− 11 to 14 feet height from center
− 7 to 8 feet height from sides
− 30 feet width & 100 – 200 feet length.
− Made by T. Iron & Angle Iron
− Average life 20-25 years.
− Safe for heavy productive
vegetables. But;
− Most expensive structure
(Rs.14-15 lac/acre)
− Not good for heavy wind area.

47. Kinds of structure
2. Pipe Structure
− Made by iron pipe of 1.5” dia & 14 -16 gauge.
 11 to 14 feet height from center
 7 feet height from sides
 30 feet width & 100 – 200 feet length.
 Average life 15-20 years.
 Safe for heavy productive vegetables.
 Relatively less expensive ss than T. R structure
(Rs. 9-10 Lac/acre)
 Good for heavy wind area.
 Relatively more popular than T.R
tunnels.
 Good for all vine type vegetables

48. Kinds of structure
3. Bamboo or Mix Structure
− Made by bamboo or bamboo + iron pipe 1.5” dia.
 10-11’ height from center
 7’ height from sides
 30’ width & 100–200’ length.
 Average life 1 to 2 years.
 Very risky for heavy productive vegetables.
 Very cheap structure (Rs. 1 to1.3 Lac/acre).
 Very risky in heavy wind area.
 Farmers use it to initiate the tunnel farming.
 Some times structure collapsed due to heavy load.
 Not reliable.

52. Production Process for Tunnel Farming
1. The production flow varies slightly for different vegetables. The following
production flow
2. is based on the production of tomatoes.
3. Sowing of seeds in a separate plot of land for nursery.
4. Preparation of seed beds in the field for cultivation of vegetables.
5. Using fertilizer in the soil to maintain its fertility.
6. Transplantation of nursery in the soil or sowing of seeds directly in the soil.
7. Maintaining level of moisture in the soil.
8. Protection from the pests, diseases and other wild growths by using
pesticides/sprays
9. of chemicals, and trimming.
10. Using fertilizer of different varieties for the smooth growth of plantation.
11. Picking/harvesting at various times as per nature/requirement of the
plantation.
12. Grading of crop on the basis of quality and other standards.
13. Application of post harvesting technology for picking/plucking, packing and
storing
14. the vegetables in order to fetch the maximum price.
15. Transportation to the sale points in local or export markets.

55. Questions