Facts about Greenhouse Technology

Recently, Greenhouse technology has become popular among many farmers, both novices and pros. While many have seen zeros in their bank accounts increase as a result, many have recorded huge loses after massive crop failure in this plastic houses.
Greenhouse technology has numerous advantages to farmers particularly in the wake of increased land fragmentation, environmental pollution, vagaries of climate change and increased pests and disease resistance to agrochemicals among other reasons. However, in the quest of attaining the many gains, as will be listed below, many farmers overlook the main determinants for employing this technology in an individual's farm.
Firstly, greenhouse technology began in the temperate regions where environmental conditions during winter could not support outdoor crop production. In producing high value off season crops, farmers used controlled-environment agriculture. Greenhouses will only be profitable when doing high value crops that will not survive outdoor production. This explains why tomato remain the most common crops grown in many greenhouses I have visited in the country.
Secondly, Greenhouses are known not to perform very well in areas with continuous high temperatures. Crop production under temperature regimes beyond optimum is adversely affected and flowering interfered with. Farmers should seek professional advise in determining suitability of greenhouse farming in their geographical locations.
Thirdly, greenhouse technology calls for intensive management compared with outdoor production. it is for this reason that modern greenhouse are fitted with automatic control systems for greenhouse environment. Until farmers realize this fact, greenhouse may not be the ultimate solution to crop challenges.
Lastly,  Greenhouse technology is a high investment venture right from construction to management. This explains why it is exclusive for high value crops during off season production only. So if planning to venture into protected cropping, consider the points listed above and you will be a sure winner greenhouse in crop production.