Diversifying vegetable production systems for improving the livelihood of resource poor farmers on the East Indian Plateau

Failure of the rice crop, or low yield has dire consequences for rice-dependent households, including food insecurity and malnutrition, India’s poorest farmers in East Indian Plateau region. Crop diversification could reduce risks production from vagaries rainfall provide cash income which is not generated subsistence rice. Being primary household laborers women bear brunt these difficult conditions patriarchal societies. For this reason we engaged with Bokaro West Singhbhum State Jharkhand, Purulia Bengal who participated experiments conducted vegetable crops legumes upland medium uplands where traditional crop broadcasted paddy We explored four different systems, (i) cucurbits (rainy/ kharif ) (season—June to September), (ii) growing tomatoes “off season” (rainy season—July October), (iii) legume rotation direct sown (dry/rabi season—November January), (iv) intercropping beans maize season—June September). The results showed that all above proved much better terms farmers, return per person day, although input cost varied it was higher new systems explored. research small-holding enabled them try options make informed decisions about opportunities. This study can increase diversity expand area non-paddy crops. are now looking demand exceeds supply. Importantly demonstrated involvement communities’ enables sustainability explore solutions future problems limited support external agencies.