Ginger (Zingiber officinale) based intercropping systems for enhancing productivity and income – a farmers’ participatory approach

H RYMBAI; ANUP DAS; K P MOHAPATRA; H D TALANG; B NONGBRI; I LAW

doi:10.56093/ijas.v91i7.115024

Authors

H RYMBAI ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India
ANUP DAS ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India
K P MOHAPATRA ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India
H D TALANG ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India
B NONGBRI ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India
I LAW ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v91i7.115024

Keywords:

Eastern Himalayan region, Ginger based intercropping, Land Equivalent Ratio, Net returns, Relative yield

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), an important medicinal and aromatic rhizomatous spice crop has potential for improving the livelihood of hill farmers. A participatory field study was conducted in 35 farmers' field of Mawthei village (25°44’18.57” N, 91°58’27.89” E and elevation of 1000-1200 m amsl) of Meghalaya to identify a sustainable ginger based intercropping system to improve income of the resource poor hill farmers. Results indicated that fresh rhizome weight was the highest in ginger as sole crop (208 g/plant) which was at par with ginger + soybean, ginger + maize + French bean and ginger + groundnut intercropping systems. Ginger + maize + French bean + pumpkin system recorded the highest Ginger Equivalent Yield (GEY, 9.24 t/ha), i.e. 15.20% higher than sole ginger crop yield. Maximum Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was obtained in ginger + maize + French bean (2.63) followed by ginger + maize + French bean + pumpkin (2.57) system. The highest net returns were recorded with ginger + maize + French bean + pumpkin (₹ 3.36 lakh/ha) followed by ginger + maize + French bean (₹ 3.17 lakh/ha) systems. The intercropping of ginger + groundnut recorded highest benefit cost ratio (3.42), followed by ginger + pumpkin and ginger + maize + French bean. Thus, adoption of ginger + maize + French bean + pumpkin and ginger + maize + French bean intercropping systems may help in improving the economic conditions of the hill farmers in eastern Himalayas.

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