Maize-based diversificationoptions for rice-wheat cropping system

Abstract

Indian agriculture is facing the triple challenge of doubling the food production by 2030, restoration of degraded soils and alleviating the poverty. Crop diversification can help to increase the income of small landholder farmers besides conservation of natural resources. Adoption of rice-wheat cropping system in Indo-Gangetic Plains of north-western India, which is water-capital-energy-intensive, causes serious threat to the agricultural sustainability. Diversification of rice-wheat (RW) system with maize-based cropping systems could help to enhance the system productivity, sustain soil health and save irrigation water and labour costs. Inclusion of short duration legume crops after cereals/oilseed crops have synergistic effect on system productivity and water-use. Adoption of different maize-based cropping systems i.e maize-wheat-green manure, maize-potato-summer moong, maize-potato-onion can help in increasing the farmers’ income and alleviating the soil heath degradation. Promotion of such cropping systems; however, will require better policy support in terms of MSP, assured marketing and trade opportunities.