CDM Assistance

JATROPHA INTER - CROPPING TECHNOLOGY

When two or more crops are grown simultaneously in the same field, this is called intercropping.

According to the topography, soil profile and prevailing agroclimatic conditions in an area, Jatropha can be combined with other suitable species comprising the agricultural, horticultural, herbs, pastoral and/or silvicultural components to result in an ecologically viable, economically profitable and socially acceptable agroforestry system. By evolving, promoting and adopting Jatropha based intercropping systems it is possible to improve the socioeconomic conditions in rural areas and to transform the National energy scenario and the ecological landscape.

Social & economic advantages of multiple cropping systems:

• Dependence on only crop is avoided.
• Less needs to import energy.
• Reduction in the outlay for fertilizers.
• There is much greater flexibility of the distribution of labor.
• Possible to recover investments in much less time.
• Availability of harvest over a much longer period of time.
• Can occupy much more labor.
• The farmer of little economic resources can produce a large variety of useful products.
• Promote a return to the land.
• Components can constitute a type of "savings" for the future.

JASOM has tried, applied and developed Some inter croping systems for both wastelands and cultivable lands as outlined below:

FOR WASTELANDS:

• Model (i) Hedgerows of Jatropha with Vernonia Galamensis
• Model (ii) Jatropha intercropped with grasses, tubers and vegetables
• Model (iii) Jatropha mixed with fruit trees
• Model (iv) Jatropha in mixed plantation with Teak / Neem
• FOR CULTIVABLE LANDS
• On irrigated farmlands

Model (i) mixed with one or more of the following species, grown at the spacing indicated against each species:-

Azadirachta indica (Neem) 7m X 5m, Tectona grandis (Teak) 4m X 4m, Emblica officinalis (Aonla) 5m X 3m, Eucalyptus camaldulensis 3.5m X 2m

Model (ii) intercropping vegetables such as red and green peppers, tomatoes water melon etc. that would provide additional income for the farmers.

Model (iii) intercropping with important local medicinal plants

Model (iv) Castor oil plant (Ricinus Communis) for the first three years only.

For this purpose Jatropha curcus is the ideal plant to give shade to shade loving plants and provide a base for the climbers

Selection of the climber is done according to the climatic condition of the regions. Mainly, the following climbers are common for every/region:

Model (iv) Jatropha can be intercropped with medicinal plants like Asparagus racemosus (Shatawar/ Liliaceae)

In Madagascar, the plant is used as a support for vanilla

On drier farmlands

Interplanting of Jatropha can done with Mulberry.

Combined with the petro plant - Jatropha, Ber and Lac constitute a profitable planting model.