Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies. Группа авторов

farming across the globe. Even out of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), 6–7 SDGs have been identified as having greater involvement of CD to achieve them within set time framework.

Figure 2.4 Diversified agri‐horti system for higher system yield and income.

Table 2.5 Nutritional importance of vegetable crops.

      Source: Jogendra et al. 2019.

S.No.	Dietary factors	Source vegetables
1	High energy	Immature seeds of broad bean and peas, lima bean, tapioca, yam, colocasiacorms, potato, brussels sprouts, onion and garlic, sweet potato
2	Proteins	Leguminous vegetable crops such as vegetable peas, beans, garlic, brussels sprouts, cowpea, lima bean seeds, amaranthus leaves, drumstick leaves, and menthe
3	Vitamin A (beta carotene)	Carrot, spinach, turnip green, palak, sarson sag, amaranth, coriander, sweet potato, pumpkin, tomato
4	Vitamin B complex	Peas, broad bean, lima bean, garlic, asparagus, colocasia and tomato
5	Vitamin C	Turnip green, green chilies, brussels sprouts, mustard green, amaranth, coriander, drumstick leaves, cauliflower, KnollKhol Spinach, cabbage, bitter gourd and reddish leaves
6	Calcium	Amaranth, parsley, palak, Chinese cabbage, kale, collard greens, broccoli, spinach
7	Iron	Amaranth, beans, peas, spinach, radish leaves, turnip greens
8	Potassium	Cowpea, peas, sword bean, colocasia, melons, potato, sweet potato, spinach, turnip green, collard greens, peas, beans

In spite of all advantages being offered due to crop diversification, its adoption is poor due to following constraints:

       Over 117.5 mha (63%) of the cropped area in the country is completely dependent on rainfall.

       Both suboptimal and over‐use of resources.

       Inadequate supply of seed and planting material for crop diversification

       Fragmentation of landholdings which discourage modernization and mechanization of agriculture.

       Poor basic infrastructure like rural, roads, power, transport, communication, etc.

       Inadequate postharvest technologies and weak agro‐based industries.

       Weak research‐extension and farmer linkage

       Decreased investment in the agriculture sector over the years.

2.9 Conclusion and Future Perspectives

Crop diversification is of vital significance to improve livelihood, enhanced system productivity and at the same time maintain many of the ecosystem services. Diversified crop production systems are of 10 less risky, if managed proficiently, they are benefitted from synergisms among different compatible crops. The system productivity also increases by two to four times over sole cropping under diversified system of farming. The core characteristics of crop diversification is to ensure complementarily, among the selected crops in spatial and temporal dimension. Hence, the resource use efficiency is also increasing with minimal wastage of the inputs. By 2050, the food supply must double to cope for rising population pressure, and impact of climate change will further create complexity in ensuring food security. It is high time to address the constraints as explained above for wider adoption. The crop diversification has also been identified as a climate smart technology to combat the risks due to climate change in agricultural production system. Under stressed ecologies like drought and flood‐prone areas, CD is an ideal approach for mitigating the negative impact of adverse weather conditions. Another vital characteristic of the agricultural diversification is efficient use of on‐farm resources, better recycling of by‐products which maintain ecosystem services for improving long‐term system sustainability.

References

      1 Cardinale, B.J., Duffy, J.E., Gonzalez, A. et al. (2012). Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity. Nature 486: 59–67.

      2 FAO (2009). State of the World’s Forests 2009. Rome: FAO http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0350e/i0350e00.htm.

      3 Gurr, G.M., Wratten, S.D., and Luna, J.M. (2003). Multi‐function agricultural biodiversity: pest management and other benefits. Basic and Applied Ecology 4 (2): 107–116. https://doi.org/10.1078/1439‐1791‐00122.

      4 Jogendra, S., Lyngdoh, Y.A., and Lata, S. (2019). Diversification through vegetable cultivation for doubling farmer's income. In: Crop Diversification for Resilience in Agriculture and Doubling Farmers Income (eds. S.S. Rathore, K. Shekhawat, G.A. Rajanna, et al.), 210. Pusa, New Delhi: ICAR –Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), ISBN:978‐93‐83168‐42‐2.

      5 Palaniappan, S.P. and Jeyabal, A. (2002). Crop diversification with oilseeds in non‐traditional areas andseasons. In: Oilseeds and Oils: Research and Development Needs (eds. M. Rai, S. Harvir and D.M. Hegde), 94–100. Hyderabad: Indian Society of Oilseeds Research.

      6 Perfecto, I. and Vandermeer, J. (2008). Biodiversity conservationin tropical agroecosystems: a new conservation paradigm. The Year in Ecology and Conservation Biology 1134: 173–200.

      7 Polasky, S. (2008). What's nature done for you lately: measuring the value of ecosystem services. Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues 23: 42–46.

      8 Rathore, S.S. and Bhatt, B.P. (2008). Productivity improvement in jhum fields through integrated farming system. Indian Journal of Agronomy 53 (3): 167–171.

      9 Rathore, S.S. and Shekhawat, K. (2020). Climate Smart Agronomy. Bhavya Books (BET) page 260. ISBN 978‐93‐83992‐49‐2.

      10 Rathore, S.S., Shekhawat, K., Rajanna, G.A. et al. (2019). Crop Diversification for Resilience in Agriculture and Doubling Farmers Income, 210. Pusa, New Delhi: ICAR –Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), ISBN:978‐93‐83168‐42‐2.

      11 Rathore, S.S., Shekhawat, K., Singh, R.K. et al. (2020). Zinc management for higher productivity and profitability under diversified fodder maize based systems in semi‐arid conditions. Range Management and Agroforestry 41 (2): 316–321.

      12 Reddy, B.N. and Suresh, G. (2006). Crop diversification with oilseed crops for‐maximizing productivity, profitability and resource conservation. Indian Journal of Agronomy 54 (2): 206–214.

      13 Renard, D. and Tilman, D. (2019). National food production stabilized by crop diversity. Nature 571: 257–260.

      14 Saha, R., Chaudhary, S., and Somasundaram, J. (2012). Soil health management under hill agro ecosystem of