Intercropping Technique: What to Do in Mango Orchards to Double the Profit?

In our country, there are many orchardists who have planted mango orchards over large areas and are earning huge profits from them. You might be thinking that they must be highly intelligent and successful farmers, but if I call them unsuccessful farmers, you may be surprised. Yes, this is not the identity of a progressive farmer. Let me explain with an example – an orchardist planted mango orchards on one acre, from which he earns ₹2–3 lakh annually, but the empty space between the mango trees is not being utilized. If the same orchardist plants turmeric or other tuber crops like elephant foot yam, colocasia, ginger, etc. in between, his annual profit can go above ₹5 lakh. Now this would be the identity of an intelligent and progressive farmer.
Let’s understand how intercropping turmeric in mango orchards can double your profit.

How to Grow Turmeric in Mango Orchards

The Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, under the Farmer First Project (FFP), is promoting turmeric cultivation in mango orchards to increase farmers’ income, meaning even the government itself is encouraging farmers to grow turmeric in orchards. The special thing about turmeric is that it requires less water, but it can also tolerate heavy rainfall for some time, provided water does not stagnate.
Under this project, about 20 farmers in Malihabad, Lucknow, who had mango orchards, were given seeds of the turmeric variety Narendra Dev Haldi-2, from which they obtained a yield of 40–45 quintals per acre.
Even if we assume the price of this turmeric to be ₹80 per kg, the total value comes to ₹3–3.5 lakh. If we deduct the expenses (seeds, labor, etc.), the profit from turmeric alone is more than ₹2 lakh – almost equal to the earnings from mangoes.

Demand Never Falls, No Fear of Animals

Turmeric is used in every household, so there is no question of its demand falling. Moreover, it is also used in making many medicines. Turmeric is beneficial for health too, which further increases its demand.
Another special thing about this crop is that it is not harmed by wild animals. No animal eats turmeric. Even blue bulls (nilgai) and monkeys stay away from it.

When and How is Turmeric Cultivated?

It is cultivated between May and June. However, in areas where there is no proper irrigation facility, it is grown at the beginning of the monsoon, i.e., in July. If your field has good drainage arrangements, it can also be sown until mid-August. Turmeric is grown on ridges. For this, small sprouted pieces of rhizomes are planted, and when the turmeric plants grow a bit bigger, soil is heaped up from both sides. The crop is ready in 6–8 months. If you plant turmeric in open fields, irrigation will be required to keep the soil moist. But if turmeric is planted between tree crops, the shade helps retain good moisture, so less irrigation is needed.

Where to Get Seeds and How Much Will Be Produced?

Turmeric seeds can be purchased online as well. You can buy from websites like IndiaMART, but before buying in large quantities, first purchase a small quantity and test it. You can also buy seeds from seed stores. While buying seeds, ensure they are not weak, as weak seeds negatively affect the yield. Also, check if there is any government institution nearby that provides seeds – in that case, you will get better and cheaper seeds. About 20 quintals of seeds are required per hectare.

Sowing Method

In the shade of mango trees, prepare ridges and sow turmeric. Keep row-to-row spacing at 30–40 cm and plant-to-plant spacing at 20 cm. Sow the rhizomes 4–5 cm deep. After sowing, give light irrigation to keep the soil moist. Using drip irrigation is beneficial.

Fertilizer and Manure

For organic farming, use farmyard manure, neem cake, or other organic fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers like NPK or DAP can also be used, but organic farming provides higher profit. About 5–10 tons of farmyard manure per acre is sufficient.

Do This to Increase Profit Even More

If you grow turmeric under a pre-signed contract with a pharma company, you can eliminate middlemen. This way, you will get a good margin and won’t face problems selling the crop. Not only this, if you cultivate turmeric under a contract with a company, you can grow it on a large scale, which will further increase income. Also, if you grow turmeric with sandalwood trees instead of mango or guava, you will earn from turmeric as well as crores from sandalwood trees.

Special Advice

Growing turmeric in mango orchards also nourishes the orchard, as turmeric roots enrich the soil. Since organic turmeric has higher demand, cultivating it organically fetches a better price. For pest and disease management, use neem oil or organic pesticides.

Challenges and Precautions

Ensure proper drainage, as waterlogging can rot the rhizomes. Take care not to damage the roots of mango trees while sowing. Turmeric crops need regular monitoring to protect them from weeds and pests.