Crop diversification opportunities in major rainfed production systems

Abstract

Crop diversification is an effort to increase crop diversity by temporal and spatial cropping systems to enhance productivity, sustainability and maintain the ecological balance. It is recognized as one of the most feasible, cost-effective and rational ways of developing resilience to the changing climate. Crop diversification can help to increase the income of smallholder farmers, conservation of natural resources, many agronomic benefits in pest management by breaking insect habitats and disease cycles, reducing weeds and soil erosion, and conserving soil moisture. Inclusion of perennials and high value crops in the system enhances income and also acts as an insurance against complete crop failure under rainfed conditions by providing multiple produce in one time from same piece of land.