Cropping System in Hilly Regions

Cropping system is a component of integrated farming system which includes growing paddy, vegetables and horticultural crops by contour farming. Contour farming means growing crops across or perpendicular to the slope of the hill. This pattern of cropping system helps in breaking up the flow water speed and reducing the soil erosion.

In contour farming, land is divided into a series of horizontal strips known as terraces. Small contour bunds are constructed at the end of each terraces to hold water allowing more time for water to penetrate the soil. Slopes with no contours lead to water runoff quickly without absorption by soil.

Contour farming includes growing a single variety of crop on a farm or mixture of several crops called strip cropping. In strip cropping farmers grow different varieties of crops in alternating strips at different levels.

Benefits of contour farming:

• Maintains soil fertility and soil erosion by preventing runoff from top fertile soil.
• Improves ability of soil’s water retention, which increases soil quality and water conservation.
• This cropping system promotes sustainable agriculture.
• Reduces fertilizer loss, power, and time consumption.
• Contour farming can help to absorb the impact of heavy rains
• Can grow different varieties of crops by strip cropping

Mechanization is essential to make hilly farming sustainable like introducing small power source agriculture equipment like power tiller and intercultivator for land preparation. Other matching equipment for hilly regions are manual seeder, rotavator for tillage, multi crop planter, potato planter, self-propelled reaper, and digger suitable for terrace farming. Plant protection equipment such as sprayers are essential.

Tractor operated or big machinery like harvester, planter etc., are difficult to move in hilly areas but our KisanKraft machinery are light in weight small in size so easy to carry in hilly regions.

Contact KisanKraft for agricultural machinery suitable for hilly regions. Visit www.kisankraft.com for detailed information.

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