Sugarcane stalks guarding the ladyfinger crop, adjacent hutments of bitter gourd, hedges laden with Ridge gourd and Poplar trees standing tall amidst the plantation – a case of agro-forestry; such crop diversification and nature- based planting innovation are characteristic principles of Hitkari Kheti. Owing to these principles, we reap diverse yields throughout the year without any degrading impact on the land.
Mechanized agriculture in the course of simplification of the system promoted chemical intensive mono- cropping which gradually isolated the agriculture systems from the natural ecosystems. Defying the core principle of nature i.e. diversity, mechanized agriculture created systems which were susceptible to pest attacks and extremely vulnerable to climate changes. Reason being, nature has instilled strength to systems through the principle of diversity. Ecologists prove that biologically diverse systems always have better adaptability to any natural or manmade changes. Acknowledging this very fact, crop diversification is being widely promoted today, to restore the lost ecological balance of the agro-ecosystems. It has been widely reported that plant diversity has a regulatory impact on pest populations as diversity favours the abundance and efficacy of the associated natural enemies of these pests. The fact doesn’t come from researches only; Hitkari Kheti is a living model substantiating this fact. Crop diversification has not only conferred resilience to our system from impact of pests, instead it has also helped us in maintaining soil health. Additionally, crop diversification has conferred a safety net, with better chances of recovery from onslaught of sudden climatic changes. Moreover, Nature- based planting innovations Hitkari farms closer to nature systems.
