*Soilless Cultivation to Secure the Vegetable Demand of Urban and Peri-Urban Population DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102695*

alternate technologies, such as soilless culture due to the decline in the availability of arable lands and the problem of soil-borne diseases in soil-based cultivation. Due to better water use efficiency in soilless culture, this particular system of cultivation can also be taken to places where water availability is limited. Presently the hydroponics unit setting up cost is too high because of limited adoption but by acceptance and adoption of more and more growers, the cost of the unit can be brought to affordable levels. Further, this technology is not getting popularity as expected in some of the developing and underdeveloped countries due to various reasons, such as high initial investment and the requirement of skilled manpower. Standardized soilless production technology by the public and private research institutions is very important to popularize and create mass awareness among urban and peri-urban growers. In this direction, ICAR-IIHR is not stopping after standardizing the soilless production technology for vegetables but also putting more and more effort into the spread of this particular technology at the national level. ICAR-IIHR soilless culture production technology has already been popularized through various training programmes, exhibitions, magazines, and media. Many growers have already started adopting IIHR soilless culture technology in the cultivation of vegetables, flowers, and medicinal crops.
