RAJSHAHI, Jun 10 (BSS): Mango intercropping with cereal crops especially paddy has started boosting mango yield in Rajshahi region.
The intercropping has been gaining momentum in the region including its vast Barind tract as the growers in general are getting interested towards the farming.
In the wake of adverse impact of climate change, the farmers face trouble to depend on only paddy cultivation for the last couple of years.
To get more income and to recoup the losses, they are cultivating paddy, onion, garlic, brinjal, mustard, turmeric and papaya with mango as intercropping.
The farmers also created new mango orchards in the new method.
"I have an eight-bigha of mango orchard of intercropping with various seasonal crops. I am getting additional income from the farming," said Jamal Hossain, a farmer of Charghat upazila.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension, the beneficiary farmers cultivated mango in around 25,000 hectares of land in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore districts.
Dr Sharaf Uddin, senior scientific officer of the Regional Horticulture Research Station said intercropping with sugarcane had been found as more beneficial to the growers.
It may boost total crop production per unit area coupled with ensuring sustainable mango cultivation with higher economic benefit compared to other crops.
Quoting the field-level research findings and farmers' views, the mango researcher said systematic intercropping of paddy, onion, lentil, mug bean, garlic and some other winter crops, vegetables and spice help increase mango yield compared to sole-cropping.
Dr Sharaf Uddin said intercropping not only increase total crop production but also help improve soil health and fertility with little or no negative effect on mango yield and quality.
Furthermore, intercropping create additional job opportunity needed for intensive crop production.
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