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.
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