In the villages of eastern India, a quiet but significant transformation is reshaping agriculture. Smallholder farmers are adopting intercropping an age-old practice, now revitalized through scientific support to double their yields, improve household nutrition, and build resilience against climate risks.
One such farmer is Nirmala Devi from Butijhari village in Bihar. She, along with a group of local women, has embraced intercropping on her modest plot, growing maize alongside short-duration vegetables like cabbage, garden peas, spinach, and beans during the rabi (winter) season. The benefits are multi-layered: not only does she earn income from vegetable sales, but she also ensures a steady supply of nutritious food for her family, livestock fodder, and more productive use of land.
This model of additive intercropping planting two crops in the same plot during one season has been introduced across multiple regions, including Coochbehar and Malda in West Bengal. Farmers there are now in their second year of practicing it, reporting improved yields and increased income, along with enhanced food and financial security.
The method involves modifying traditional maize planting systems. Instead of dense monocropping, farmers adopt a wider spacing pattern, such as 60-60 cm or a paired-row layout of 30-90 cm. The spaces between maize rows become fertile ground for fast-growing vegetables, which mature early in the season and are harvested before the maize fully develops.
This shift comes at a critical time. Continuous cultivation of staples like rice, wheat, and maize has depleted soil and water resources, especially under the increasing strain of climate change. Many farmers have been reluctant to diversify out of fear of failure or uncertainty. However, maize’s ability to grow in both kharif and rabi seasons offers a chance to rethink farming strategies.
In Coochbehar, a farmer and his wife tried intercropping on just 800 square meters of land, earning an additional ₹15,000–17,000 from vegetables after covering input costs. They also gained access to fresh food and fodder for their animals. Encouraged by the success, they now intercrop all their plots and plan to continue indefinitely.
Intercropping is proving to be more than just an income strategy it is a risk management tool. In years when maize yields suffer due to untimely rains, wind damage, or other climate shocks, the vegetable component cushions the financial blow. This early-season income can cover production costs, reducing farmers’ economic vulnerability.
In Kishanganj, one farmer who faced delays in maize fertilization still turned a profit thanks to his intercrop of cabbage and cauliflower. Despite anticipating a poor maize harvest, the vegetables had already brought in enough returns to secure his season.
Looking ahead, researchers are optimistic. With only two harvests completed in India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, early results already show promise. Farmers are eager to join, and interest continues to grow.
Further innovations are on the horizon. New combinations of crops are being tested based on nutritional value, market demand, and ease of cultivation. Efficient fertilizer use and better market connections are also being explored. Intercropping trials have expanded to sugarcane fields in western Uttar Pradesh, where ongoing evaluations aim to refine the practice for broader adoption.
As more farmers turn to intercropping, a new chapter in sustainable and resilient agriculture is being written one where the same piece of land offers not just one harvest, but multiple rewards.
