System approach in rainfed mango for sustainable productivity, profitability and livelihood security

Abstract

Results of a field trial for four years to standardize an integrated farming system revealed that harvesting rainwater and intercropping can be profitably practiced under rainfed mango. Mango + sweet corn intercropping + dairy system gave significantly higher system productivity (15,303 kg/ha/year), net returns (₹ 2,61,870/ha/ year), and benefit-cost ratio (2.43) followed by mango + pigeon pea (13,062 kg/ha/year, ₹ 233 × 103/ha/year and 2.40, respectively). The economics of dairy (two milch cows) integration showed an average milk production of 9.7 litres/day/cow, leading to regular returns. In addition, there was a reduction in the cost of maintenance of dairy due to on-farm generated fodder resources in the system approach. With intercropping, the organic carbon content accumulated in the mango basin (0.54 % to 1.28 %), although in the interspace, the differences were non-significant. Further, with intercropping, mango yield increased from 20.7 kg/plant to 66.6 kg/plant over four years. The total net returns were increased from ₹ 41,800/ha /year from monocropping mango to ₹ 261.87 × 103/ha/year by following integrated farming systems. Further, the system approach resulted in periodic returns to the family, with the distribution of income spreading out from a mere three months to all twelve months in the year with a minimum of ₹ 6,520/month to a maximum of ₹ 750/month thereby suggesting the sustainable livelihood opportunity for the dependent farm family.