Lalmonirhat: Farmers in various villages of Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila have started intercropping in their brinjal fields this season using the mulching method, aiming to further increase cropping intensity on the same land.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this pilot initiative has created opportunities to produce additional crops and earn higher profits from the same land, thereby making agricultural activities more profitable and sustainable. Mulching in agriculture is the practice of covering the soil surface around plants with a protective layer of material to retain moisture and improve growing conditions. With support from the 'Rupantar' project, 22 farmers of Babupara and Khanpara villages of Hatibandha upazila have introduced leafy vegetables, including radish and red amaranth, between rows of brinjal this season.
RDRS Bangladesh, with technical support from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), has been promoting brinjal cultivation with mulching under the 'Rupantar' project among 68 farmers in Babupara, Khanpara, and surrounding villages. For the past two years, farmers participating in the 'Rupantar' project have been cultivating brinjal using mulching technology in these villages. Building on their experience with mulching, farmers have now started exploring intercropping to make better use of available land and diversify farm production.
Speaking to BSS, Farmer Jagodish Chandra of village Babupara mentioned his interest in intercropping after receiving information and encouragement from the 'Rupantar' project. "Earlier, we cultivated only brinjal in the field. This season, we planted leafy vegetables between the brinjal rows so that we can obtain additional produce from the same land," he said. Another farmer, Amir Ali, of the same village, said that the project encouraged farmers to experiment with suitable crops that can be grown alongside brinjal.
Research Associate of RDRS Bangladesh involved in the project, Pallab Goswami, highlighted the potential benefits of mulching in brinjal cultivation, including conserving soil moisture, suppressing weed growth, and maintaining a favorable soil environment. "Intercropping with brinjal can further help farmers utilize the vacant space between brinjal rows and obtain additional produce from the same field," he added.
Consultant for the 'Rupantar' project of CIMMYT Bangladesh, Krishibid Dr. Md Mamunur Rashid, emphasized that intercropping with brinjal could provide farmers with an additional opportunity to diversify production from limited land. Since brinjal is a relatively long-duration crop, there can be available space between rows during different stages of crop growth. "Growing suitable short-duration vegetables in these spaces can help farmers utilize land more efficiently and potentially generate additional farm output," he said.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for the Rangpur region Krishibid Dr. Md Saiful Islam pointed out the prospects of intercropping in the region, particularly where farmers seek to increase production from limited land. He emphasized the importance of technical guidance from agricultural extension services, enabling farmers to select suitable intercrops associated with local soil, weather, and market conditions to maximize benefits.