The Centre plans to promote multi-layer farming as part of its efforts to help double the income of farmers.

Multi-layer farming comprises of growing compatible plants of different heights on the same field at the same time. It is mostly practised in orchards and plantation crops for maximum use of solar energy even under high planting density.

According to Ministry of Agriculture, multi-layer farming opens a new door for farmers to earn round the year as there is less risk of a complete crop failure. It is a potential technology, as it uses natural resources properly. The system also helps in better utilisation of environmental factors, greater yield stability in diverse environmental conditions, as well as conservation of soil and other resources.

 

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Answering a question on the utility of multi-layer farming, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development in Kozhikode along with the Central Plantation Crop Research Institute, Kasargod, has successfully demonstrated Arecanut based cropping Systems in Karnataka and Kerala from 2006 to 2018.

The Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut, is undertaking research (on-station) and technology validation through farmers’ participatory research (on-farm research) on Integrated Farming Systems and Cropping Systems in 24 States.

“The adoption of coconut based multi-layer farming (coconut, pepper, nutmeg, banana, cinnamon, turmeric/ginger) is more remunerative than traditional systems. Multi-layer Farming Models on high-value vegetable cultivation under a three-tier system was introduced in the backward districts of Bihar by ICAR and farmers were able to grow three different vegetables on the same piece of land at a time” the Minister stated in a written reply.

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