Crop Diversification for Sustainable Crop Production, Resource Use Efficiency and Higher Profitability

AbstractCrop diversification is the compelling needs of the present time amidst increasing biotic and abiotic stresses and for ensuring resilience in production system. It has been proved by many researchers that under stressed ecologies, diversification is one of the best resilient practices which guarantee for enhanced sustainable productivity and also better incomes to the farmers. Depending on fewer crops for our food and other needs may lead to serious ecological threats in terms of increasing biotic and abiotic stresses in crop production. There are many ways through which the diversification can be achieved, and some of these are integrated farming systems, intercropping, sustainable crop intensification etc. At IARI, under limited water availability conditions, the integration of field crops with protected cultivation, mushroom growing, agri-horti system and vegetable cultivations resulted in enhanced income and productivity. Hence under changing climatic scenario it is important to develop, practice and popularize the location specific diversification models for building resilience and long-term sustainability.