(a) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding
feasibility of crop cycle in view of different aspects of agriculture
and meteorological base;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action plan to encourage the farmers to change crop
cycle in order to arrest the decline in fertility of land due to
continuous single crop cultivation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING
INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State
Agricultural Universities have recommended different intercropping systems
for various agro climatic zones of the country under rainfed agro-ecosystem.
The major recommendations are given in Annexure-I.
(c) The action plan to encourage the farmers to change crop cycle includes:-
(i) Developing short duration crops so that in place of one or two crops
in a year more crops are taken.
(ii) Developing crop management practices for enhancing resource use
efficiency and productivity of cropping systems in different agro-ecological zones.
(iii) Identifying alternate cropping systems for efficient land use.
(iv) Demonstrating the benefits of intercropping systems in controlling
land degradation and building soil fertility.
(v) Advocating of land use through integration of trees-crops-livestock
for risk reduction and optimal use of resources and
(vi) Creating awareness through farmers’ fare and front line demonstrations
on the advantages of intercropping systems in risk management.