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Agriculture News: Bhojpur agricultural scientists are also advising farmers to now sow coriander in the ridges and empty places of the fields along with the gram crop. The combination of both the crops is very beneficial.
Smart planning and crop management in farming today is increasing the farmer’s income manifold. One such technique in discussion these days is intercropping of coriander with gram. This not only keeps gram safe, but the farmer also gets double income.
Earlier, farmers used to do such farming in many areas of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, but seeing the changing environment, now farmers in Bihar have also started doing such farming. Bhojpur agricultural scientists are also advising the farmers that along with the gram crop, they are now sowing coriander in the ridges and empty places of the fields. The combination of both the crops is very beneficial.
The first major benefit of pest control
The strong natural aroma of coriander keeps away many insects from the field which usually attack the gram crop, especially the borer insect (Helicoverpa), which causes losses worth crores of rupees every year, is less attracted towards gram due to the smell of coriander. This also reduces the cost of spray and pesticides on gram crop.
Second advantage is more production at lower cost
Coriander is ready in a short time, hence the farmer gets his first income even before the gram is harvested. At the same time, gram also remains healthy and the yield increases, due to which the total profit reaches two times. Farmers say that by sowing coriander, moisture is maintained in the field, weeds grow less and the growth of gram is better. Agricultural scientist AK Morya explains that gram is a pulse crop which releases nitrogen in the soil. Whereas coriander roots like soil with light moisture and air. Both the crops maintain a balance with each other and crop management becomes easier. Overall, this joint cultivation of gram + coriander is emerging as a profitable deal for the farmers. Protection from insects, low expenditure, double cropping and huge increase in profits, all these things can make it the favorite strategy of the farmers in the coming Rabi season.
