Evaluation of different intercropping options with banana in Nimar region of M.P.

Banana is a 12–13 month crop and it is mainly grown as sole crop in different part of the banana growing states. In the past few years banana farmers are facing various problems in respect of increasing cost of production per unit area due to high diesel cost, high labour charges, more dependency on chemical fertilizers, high transportation charges, poor market facilities & rate. Under such situation it is necessary to reduce the banana cost of production per unit area which is possible by growing the intercrops. An effort were made by KVK, Burhanpur in Rabi 2008–09 to evaluate the performance of three intercrops namely Onion, Rabi maize and Cow pea at farmers field in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Based on the B: C ratio and equivalent yield of banana, it is found that banana+ onion (3.35 & 741.9 q) followed by banana+ Cow pea (3.13 & 616.2q) are more economical as intercrops without any adverse effect on yield of banana. Besides additional income these intercrops also help in reducing the cost of cultivation.