Higher yields and profits from new crop rotations permitting integration of mediculture with agriculture in the Indo-Gangetic plains

The results of a survey conducted in 100 villages of 7 districts located in Uttar Pradesh in the central Indo-Gangetic plains on the land cropping pattern and profits to the farmers per unit land and area are presented. It is shown that sugarcane is cultivated in about 19.5% of the land. Rice remains the principal kharif crop in the area, occupying about 76% of land. Conventional rice–wheat/Brassical/legume, rice–potato and rice–mint rotations benefitted farmers to the extent of roughly Rs 30,000 ha-1 year-1. Introduction of new rotations based upon newly available short duration Kosi variety of mint is permitting practice of rice–wheat/Brassica/legume–mint and rice–potato–mint rotations, bringing a profit of approximately Rs 61,000 ha-1 year-1 to the farmers of the area. Future prospects of integration of short duration medicinal and aromatic crops (mediculture) between food grain crops (agriculture) like the above, for the development of agriculture, industry and employment are discussed.