Gandhinagar: With a view to protecting the interests of farmers going in for greenhouse and polyhouse farming, the government has undertaken a stringent exercise for empanelment of companies that would build and maintain these units. Once the system is put in place, the companies will have to ensure that the units being set up are cost effective and maintained by them. The exercise by agriculture department follows complaints from some farmers who were left high and dry after opting for this mode of farming. Sources said that setting up a one acre polyhouse costs around Rs 40 lakh out of which 65 per cent is subsidized by the central and state governments. “Still the farmer has to invest a lot. We are trying to develop a mechanism where only empanelled companies would build these units and ensure that they are maintained for years,” said an official. The new units would have a proper insurance cover, will be made of standardized products and the companies will have to deposit 10 per cent of its cost with the government before undertaking its establishment. “This deposit may be forfeited if the company tries to cheat the farmer. It will be returned to the company in parts,” said the official. He further said that the department has also made it mandatory for farmers availing loans to undertake training at government institutions or one of the agricultural universities across the state. According to sources, the government has suspended clearing of applications for the time being till the empanelment is completed. The process of empanelment was introduced last year and 22 companies were empanelled but it was found to be having loopholes that are being plugged in this time. The popularity of this form of farming, particularly polyhouse farming, is soaring in the state. Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Navsari, Valsad and Kheda are some districts where it has picked up in a big way for cultivation of capsicum, cucumber, cherry tomato, chives, gerbera, roses and carnations.