Context:
A unique conservation agricultural practice, Paira cropping system has dwindled in recent years due to climate change.
Relevance:
GS III: Agriculture
Paira Cropping System: An Overview
Geographical Distribution and Practice:
Regions:
- The Paira cropping system is predominantly practiced in several states including Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
Cropping Technique:
- Paira cropping represents a relay method of sowing, wherein seeds of lentil, lathyrus, urdbean, or mungbean are broadcasted into the standing rice crop approximately two weeks prior to its harvest.
Agronomic Features:
- Unlike conventional cropping systems, the Paira method restricts agronomic interventions such as tillage, weeding, irrigation, and fertilizer application.
- The productivity of the pulses in this system is significantly influenced by the rice variety cultivated.
Advantages of Paira Cropping System:
Optimal Resource Utilization:
- The Paira cropping system capitalizes on the available soil moisture during the rice harvest, preventing its rapid loss.
Enhanced Yield:
- Empirical studies have indicated that Paira cropping yields a higher lentil output compared to traditional cultivation methods involving tillage post rice harvest.
Sustainable Crop Intensification:
- Paira cropping exemplifies an efficient approach to sustainable agricultural intensification, facilitating enhanced land productivity while conserving resources.
Relay Cropping Method: A General Overview
Concept:
- Relay cropping is a form of multiple cropping wherein a secondary crop is sown into a standing primary crop well before the primary crop’s harvest.
Benefits:
- Resource Optimization: Relay cropping addresses challenges related to inefficient resource utilization, enabling optimal use of land, water, and nutrients.
- Sowing Time and Fertilizer Management: This method mitigates conflicts arising from conflicting sowing times and facilitates synchronized fertilizer application.
- Soil Health: Relay cropping aids in soil conservation and minimizes degradation, ensuring sustained agricultural productivity.
-Source: Down To Earth
