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Intercropping in traditional farming systems

1980; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 16; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00220388008421770

1743-9140

N. S. Jodha,

Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology

Though largely neglected by researchers and planners, intercropping is a key element of traditional farming systems. Its superiority over sole cropping in several respects has been indicated by different studies. The present paper, based on farm level data for three years collected under ongoing village level studies programmes of ICRISAT, clearly reveals the following: (1) Intercropping is essentially a system of small and dry land farmers. Hence research resource allocation favouring intercropping can help serve equity goals. (2) Traditional intercropping is highly complex and diverse. It is designed to meet the farmer's multiple objectives simultaneously. Scientists cannot and need not generate equally complex systems. They can help by generating more and better options regarding various components of intercropping systems and leaving their selection to the farmer.