Current Science

Anil K. Choudhary ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Himachal Pradesh (HP) is a hill state where a majority of marginal and small farmers practise traditional farming, which is not remunerative. A manifold increase in the resource-use efficiency in crop production can be obtained through protected cultivation compared to open-field conditions. Protected cultivation can help marginal and small farmers provided the financial and extension services for infrastructural development and transfer of technology are speeded-up to bring the desired technology to the region. In protected cultivation, high-value cash crops, vegetables and flowers are grown and managed under controlled conditions with higher per unit productivity and profitability. Protected cultivation has become a new agri-entrepreneurship in HP with the support of state and central governments. The state government has initiated protected farming through Horticultural Technology Mission and Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan Samridhi Yojna. Consequently, a large number of polyhouses (>8000) have been constructed in the state with about 223.2 ha area under protected cultivations. To achieve these targets, the State Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture as well as two State Agricultural Universities through their 12 Krishi Vigyan Kendras have worked hand-in-hand to make this enterprise a great success. This article presents status and promotional programmes on scaling-up of protected cultivation as well as the potential and prospects of this new agri-entrepreneurship in economic development and transformation of rural livelihoods in HP.

Keywords

Agri-Entrepreneurship, Hill Production Systems, High-Value Crops, Protected Cultivation, Small and Marginal Farmers.

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Sudhir K. Rajpoot ¹, D. S. Rana ¹, Anil K. Choudhary ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012, IN

Abstract

The present study was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in a splitplot design replicated thrice with four main-plot treatments, i.e. four combinations of two cotton establishment methods (CEMs) and two planting geometries (PGMs) [M₁ – transplanted cotton (90 × 60 cm PGM); M₂ – transplanted cotton (120 × 45 cm PGM); M₃ – direct seeded cotton (DSC; 90 × 60 cm PGM); M₄ – DSC (120 × 45 cm PGM)]; while sub-plot treatments comprised three intercropping systems [S-Ct – sole cotton; Ct + Ok – cotton + okra (1 : 2 row ratio); Ct + Cp – cotton + cowpea (vegetable purpose; 1 : 2 row ratio)]. It can be inferred from the study that transplanted cotton (TPC) with 90 × 60 cm planting geometry in Bt-cotton + vegetable cowpea intercropping system exhibited maximum seed-cotton equivalent yield (SCEY) as well as gross and net returns and other economic indices, followed by Ct + Ok and sole cotton. DSC with 90 × 60 cm PGM in Ct + Ok intercropping system proved superior in terms of SCEY, and gross and net returns besides other economic indices. Based upon yield advantage indices, TPC in 90 × 60 cm PGM under Ct+Cp intercropping system and DSC in 90 × 60 cm PGM under both intercrops were found to be the best options. Crop competition indices also revealed that the inclusion of these intercrops is advantageous because of spatial and temporal complementarity, different ischolar_maining pattern and plant architecture to utilize natural resources more efficiently in Bt-cotton-based intercropping systems in the semiarid Indo-Gangetic plains region.

Keywords

Bt-Cotton, Crop Establishment Methods, Intercropping Systems, Planting Geometry, Vegetable Cowpea.

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