Cropping system intensification with pulse, oilseed and vegetable crops enhanced system productivity and profitability under farmer first programme at fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh

Farmer first project entitled "Integrated approaches for food, nutrition and livelihood security of rural households in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh" is going on to enhance farmers’ income through adoption of scientific farming practices. Under this project, after identifying problems faced by the farmers, suitable interventions were formulated and implemented in three villages of Fatehpur district to achieve sustainable economic development and increased nutritional security of the farm families. In the year 2017–18, 90 farmers cultivated the mungbean crop and the average yield of mungbean recorded 9.30 q/ha. Income gained ₹18590/ha and B: C ratio 2.25 as compared to local variety (7.50 q/ha). The local variety recorded income of ₹14330/ha and B:C ratio of 2.13. Similarly, the average yield of chickpea (JG 16′) was 27.8 q/ha with an income of ₹77970/ha was recorded as compared to local variety (yield 23.5 q/ha and income ₹67450/ha). Similarly, demonstrations were also conducted in the year 2018–19 by covering 90 farmers. The combination of pulses, vegetables, and oilseeds resulted in higher system productivity and profitability as compared to farmers practice such as monocropping of rice and continuous rice-wheat rotation. Also, improved varieties of crop increased the yield and income of farmers than that of local varieties. Thus, inclusion of pulse oilseed and vegetable crops in fallow period increased the cropping intensity and income. Thus, cropping intensification with pulse, oilseed and vegetables can increase base crop productivity, system productivity, profitability and livelihood security in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India.