Millet based cropping systems for higher water useefficiency and farm income of tribal farmers in Odisha

Abstract

Millet-based cropping systems play a vital role in improving the water use efficiency, climate resilience, and farm income of tribal farmers in Odisha. Different crop growth habits and maturity periods make the millets suitable under different cropping systems. Traditional and improved cropping systems such as sequential cropping, intercropping, mixed cropping, and agroforestry are instrumental to utilise available rainfall, residual soil moisture, land, and solar energy more efficiently. Indigenous multi-tier cropping systems involving millets, pulses, oilseeds, maize, and vegetables support nutritional security and climate adaptation under rainfed upland and hilly ecology.