Drumstick based Agri-Horticulture Systems for profitability and resource conservation

Abstract

The drumstick and drumstick based cropping systems, have not only been found to be more remunerative than tobacco but also this agri-horti system provides environmental services in terms of soil carbon built up and nutrient saving in the soil. This holds promise for agro-ecosystem of central Gujarat, which has predominant tobacco mono cropping system that is averse to resource conservation. This not only suggests the scope of an alternative cropping system to tobacco mono cropping system for tobacco growing farmers but also make it legitimate effort in view of the national action framework to find alternative crop after signing the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of World Health Organization.