Inter-cropping of floriculture with rice to boost income

THE SURVEY HAS noted that growing flowers in rice-based crop sequences gave higher net returns than other inter-cropping patterns such as rice-soyabean, rice-bell pepper, rice-fodder maize, rice-cowpea and rice-radish.

- SANDIP DAS

For promotion of floriculture, which has evolved into a key commercial venture within agriculture, the Survey has stated that inter-cropping flowers are more profitable compared to the options of cereals, pulses, vegetables and oilseeds.

It said that with subsidy support and crop loan financing, floriculture is a promising venture for marginal and small landholdings, which constitute more than 96% of the total landholdings and 63% of the area of cultivation under floriculture.