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== 'CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND CROP ROTATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND YIELD STABILITY IN INTERCROPPING SYSTEM'''' Crop Diversification:- Punjab state has been the first state in the country to initiate contract farming at government level. The main objective of this Programme has been to prepare farmers to cultivate quality and marketable produce based on demand supply chain. Farmers are required to sign contract to produce identified crops viz Hyola(Hybrid Rapeseeds Mustard),Sunflower, Durum Wheat, Malting Barley, Moong, Basmati(Pure,Hybrid, Evolved etc),Maize had a pre determined price, which is not Lower than the MSP of GOI are purchased by Punjab Agro on behalf of Pvt. Buyers/Exporters and GOI. PAFC took up the implementation first in Rabi 2002 wherein an area of 22312 acres was brought under the crops of Hyola, Sunflower, Malting Barley & Maize. During Kharif-2003 an area of 1.27 lac acres and in Rabi-2003 an area of 0.60 lac acres was brought under the identified Rabi crops and Kharif crops of Moong, Basmati, Maize, Guar & Castor. The area under the Programme has been going up and during the year 2004-05 an area of 2.49 lac acres was brought under various crops promoted under the Contract Farming Programme.During the season Kharif 2005 more than 1 lac acres have been brought under various identified crops and in Rabi 2005 it is proposed to target an area of more than 2 lac acres. During the year 2004-05 PAFC had made necessary arrangements for procurement of Hyola at MSP i.e. Rs 1700 per qtls. and it has procured 22230 qtls.of Hyola worth Rs 378 lacs from the contracted farmers. Commercial purchase of sunflower was made at Rs.1500/- per quintal, which was higher than MSP of Rs.1340/- per quintal, from the contracted farmers and 55370 qtl. of sunflower seed was purchased worth Rs. 8 crores. Barley crop was purchased from its contracted farmers not only at contracted price of Rs. 540/- per qtl.(MSP) but also at higher price of Rs. 560-580 per qtl. and 1560 MT worth Rs.93.60 lacs was procured. Durum Wheat was procured from contracted farmers at the contracted price of Rs.660/- per qtl.(Rs.640 as MSP+Rs.20 per qtl. as bonus) and 3130 qtls of Durum Wheat was procured. The mechanization of crops identified was also taken up simultaneously. It was important in view of the labour costs incurred by the farmers and shortage of labour during the periods of sowing and harvest. The machines were got developed/manufactured to provide support to the farmers in terms of reduced seed rate through machines, reduction in cost of harvesting operations and improved quality in post harvest handling for better price realization. The success of the Programme could be only possible with supply of quality seeds of identified crops. The crops were identified based on the requirement of the state in terms of low water consumption and improving soil health. The quality seed of crop viz Hyola were tied up with Advanta India Ltd.(proprietary seed), Hybrid Maize varieties with reputed seed companies, Basmati, Hybrid Basmati, evolved Basmati Malting Barley(proprietary seed of UB Ltd.)and from PAU, HAU & Seed Development Corporations of India and other States. To achieve proper yields through adoption of the agronomic practices by the farmers properly as also to ensure trace-ability, the involvement of private sector was felt essential. Accordingly the companies namely MSSL, Escorts Ltd., TCL, & DCM were roped in to provide the extension service to the farmers and also as buyback agents of the buyers/ processors interested in purchase of the crop for their requirement. The exporters/processors were also roped in to ensure buy back of contracted produce. Motivational camps to enthuse farmers by providing information on seed agronomic practices, assured buyback arrangements and the crop economics so that they could decide on the crop which they want to take up for cultivation. DIVERSIFICATION in agriculture is possible and essential to save the crumbling agriculture economy and environment of Punjab. However the process and strategies of making it happen are not as easy as said. People who are actual players in the field have a definite mindset and conditioned behaviour. Conducive conditions are another aspect. Suggestion alone is not the solution to the problem. We need to think of practical and workable strategies. First of all, it must be understood that diversification is a dynamic phenomenon and can be multidimensional. In the present context, there may be two-pronged diversification: 1) crop-wise diversification and 2) area-wise diversification.
Crop-wise diversification is related to crops outside the normal cycle of paddy and wheat and also to the shift from one variety of rice and/or wheat to some other variety that can be more useful and relevant.
Area-wise diversification is that certain areas may be identified for one set of crops while other areas for another. An added advantage of this type of diversification may be in the form of marketing management.
The following suggestions may be considered for area-wise diversification:
There should be a survey by soil testing in various parts of the state because over fertilization and pesticides have disturbed the macro/micro nutrients of the soil. In accordance with the results of these tests and the agro-climatic conditions, an action plan for area-wise diversification, incentives and marketing may be prepared. Diversification may be between two varieties of rice, for example a shift from paddy rice to superior quality basmati rice and between two crops, or to a shift from paddy rice cycle to pulses, oil seeds, floriculture, sugarcane and horticulture. The Kandi belt and Shivalik foothills of Doaba, the Malwa belt, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Ropar can be encouraged to grow lichi, mango and citrus fruits. Certain pockets in Patiala district are ideal for guava, ber and mango. Faridkot and Abohar are suitable for guava, citrus fruits like kinnow, red blood malta, etc. The Barnala area is good for grapes and citrus fruit. Bathinda, Abohar and Sangrur are good for cotton and groundnut. The Majha area, in particular the Ravi belt, can opt for superior quality basmati rice for the domestic market as well as export because of the agroclimatic conditions—Gurdaspur district and pockets in Amritsar and Kapurthala districts are ideal for this purpose. The rest of the area can be used to grow sugarcane, barley, oil seeds, pulses, groundnut, soyabean, maize, sunflower etc. It is also suggested that farmers may be encouraged to set up fishery, poultry, piggery, dairy, etc. The state government should initiate a process of agro-based industrialization with the help NRI/private entrepreneurs. The required infrastructure facilities to facilitate sorting, grading, packaging along with cold storage, dehydration units and movement of produce from the producer to the consumer in the shortest time may be developed. The government should identify one centre each in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Rajpura (G T Road) and the Sangrur area for these activities. Before setting up a medium to large sized food processing units, the entrepreneurs must expose themselves to the international and national market. They must focus on the market share rather than on strategies to pay less to the farmers; only then the farmers at the grassroots level may be ready to diversify. The government has to come forward for the supply of quality seeds/sapling.
Crop rotation
Crop rotation was already mentioned in the Roman literature, and referred to by great civilizations in Africa and Asia. From the end of the Middle ages until the 20th centuary, the threeyear rotation was practised by farmers. In the Green revolution, the practice of crop rotation was inputs to the depleted soil, e.g., replacing organic nitrogen with ammonium nitrate or urea and restoring soil pH with lime. However, disadvantages of monoculture from the standpoint of sustainable agriculture have since become apparent.
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar type of crops in the same space in sequential seasons. The choice and sequence of rotation crops is depends on the nature of the soil, the climate, and rainfall, which together determine the type of plants that may be cultivated. A traditional component of crop rotation is the replenishment of nitrogen through the use of legumes in sequence with cereals and other crops. The aim of rotation is threefold: to balance nutrient demands, to control insect and disease attacks, and to deter weeds. The crop rotation can be practised by selecting the crops based on the following basic principles: 1. Based on nutrient requirements (nutrient rotation) 2. Based on nutrient depleting crops and nutrient supplying crops (legume rotation) 3. Based on root growth (nutrient management),
Leaves: Thrive on nitrogen; examples include lettuce, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, salad greens, cabbage, cauliflower, knol kohl, etc.
Fruits: Need phosphorus; examples include squashes, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes, chilies, eggplants, etc.
Roots: Love potassium; examples include onions, garlic, leeks, carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, etc.
Soil builders and cleaners: Legumes are excellent for the soil because they store nitrogen from the air and release it into the soil; Examples of cleaners include corn and potatoes, Examples of builders include beans and peas. The first season of planting could be devoted to leafy plants, the next season to fruits, followed by the root plants and then legumes. Requirement for Nitrogen along with agricultural lime increases when farmers go to corn after corn, said Lloyd Murdock, UK soils specialist. Extra nitrogen, from 20 to 25 pounds, is needed in corn after corn and nitrogen costs are soaring. Extra agricultural lime also is needed when farmers chose to grow continuous corn. The fact that suitable rotations made it possible to restore or to maintain a productive.
Legume rotation Alternate legumes with cereals and other plants that require nitrates. Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, providing for subsequent non-legumes in the rotation. Legumes, plants of the family Fabaceae, for instance, have nodules on their roots, which contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobium. A common modern crop rotation is alternating soyabeans and maize (corn).
Advantages of crop rotation
Increase in the yield One immediate economic benefit of crop rotations is improved yields. For example, sunflower yields over eight years at Crookston, Minnesota, USA were often significantly greater in rotation with other crops than when continuous sunflower was grown (Table 1). Similarly Wheat yields were also greater with rotation than continuous wheat in an eight-year study conducted with different crops at
Weed control Weed control is enhanced as perennial weeds are destroyed through cultivation of annual grains; most annual weeds are smothered or eliminated by mowing when legumes like alfalfa, sun hemp are in production.
Soil fertility maintainance Crop rotation can also improve soil fertility by alternating deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants. Crop rotation also seeks to balance the fertility demands of various crops to avoid excessive depletion of soil nutrients. By crop rotation farmers can keep their fields under continuous production, without the need to let them lie fallow, and the need for artificial fertilisers, both of which can be expensive.
Crop rotation Crop rotation is one of the oldest and most effective cultural control strategies. It means the planned order of specific crops planted on the same field. It also means that the succeeding crop belongs to a different family than the previous one. The planned rotation may vary from 2 or 3 year or longer period. Some insect pests and disease-causing organisms are hosts' specific. For example, rice stem borer feeds mostly on rice. If you don't rotate rice with other crops belonging to a different family, the problem continues as food is always available to the pest. However, if you plant legume as the next crop, then corn, then beans, then bulbs, the insect pest will likely die due to absence of food. Advantages of crop rotation 1. Prevents soil depletion 2. Maintains soil fertility 3. Reduces soil erosion 4. Controls insect/mite pests. Crop rotation as a means to control to insect pests is most effective when the pests are present before the crop is planted have no wide range of host crops; attack only annual/biennial crops; and do not have the ability to fly from one field to another. 5. Reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals 6. Reduces the pests' build-up 7. Prevents diseases 8. Helps control weeds Useful tips in planning crop rotation 1. Know the family where your crops belong to make sure that you plant on the next cropping a crop that belongs to a different family than the previous one.
Table 1. Crop groups Family Common names Allium Chive, garlic, leek, onion, shallot Cucurbit Bitter gourd, bottle gourd, chayote cucumber, luffa gourd, melons pumpkins, snake gourd, squash, wax gourd Crucifer broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, radish, turnip. Legume Common beans, black bean, broad bean (Fava), cowpea, kidney bean, Lima bean, lintel, mung bean, pigeon pea, soybean, white bean Aster Lettuce, artichoke Solanaceous Potato, tomato, pepper, eggplant Grains and cereals Corn, rice, sorghum, wheat, oat, barley, millet Carrot family Carrot, celery, dill, parsnip, parsley Root crops Cassava, sweet potato, taro, yam, water chestnut Mallow family Cotton, okra
2. Make a list of the crops you want to grow by also taken into consideration the market's demand of your produce. For example, plant leafy vegetable on the first cropping season, next fruit vegetables, then root crops, then legumes, then small grains 3. Grow legumes before grains or cereals 4. Practice green manuring 5. Always keep farm records
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