Intercropping Benefits for Sustainable Agriculture in Pakistan

In Pakistan, where water scarcity and climate change continue to threaten agricultural sustainability, intercropping has emerged as a practical and efficient solution to enhance productivity and strengthen food security. Intercropping refers to the cultivation of two or more crop species simultaneously on the same field during a single growing season (Khan et al., 2023). This system ensures the efficient utilization of vital resources such as soil nutrients, water, and sunlight, leading to higher overall yields per unit of land (Wang et al., 2007). It remains a time-tested yet modern approach that boosts total productivity and farm income particularly in densely populated regions where per capita land availability is limited (Dasbak and Asiegbu, 2009).

Sindh province, despite its agricultural potential, faces increasing challenges due to limited water resources and erratic rainfall patterns linked to climate change. This calls for a transition from conventional monocropping to more adaptive and resource-efficient systems like intercropping. Properly implemented, intercropping can serve as a game-changing practice for farmers allowing them to achieve higher economic returns, better resource conservation, and greater resilience to climatic stress. Although this system demands careful planning, timely management, and commitment, the resulting gains in productivity and income make it an attractive option for sustainable agricultural development in Pakistan.

Intercropping offers several notable benefits, including water conservation, yield stability, resource efficiency, and enhanced profitability. When combined with ridge planting, it conserves substantial amounts of irrigation water compared to traditional flood irrigation. It also stabilizes crop yields ensuring that intercrops like onion and wheat maintain near-identical productivity to their sole crops, while sugarcane yield declines only slightly (by 5–10%). Intercropping further improves resource efficiency, doubling nutrient and water use effectiveness compared to conventional systems. The economic benefits are equally impressive, as intercropping lowers input costs related to fertilizers, land preparation, and labor.

However, the adoption of intercropping in Sindh remains limited due to low farmer awareness, the need for precise management, and higher seed costs. Farmers must adhere closely to schedules for sowing, irrigation, and fertilizer application, as delays in one crop can negatively affect others. Despite these challenges, intercropping remains a practical and rewarding method for smallholders seeking to boost income and improve food security.

Currently, there is insufficient research on the input requirements, seasonal production patterns, and management practices associated with intercropping. Although some provincial institutes and universities have investigated sugarcane-based systems, comprehensive data on production costs, profitability, and yield determinants remain scarce. Nonetheless, farmers who have adopted sugarcane intercropping systems report significantly higher earnings. A range of short-duration crops such as potato, tomato, onion, garlic, lentil, wheat, peas, mustard, and sunflower can be effectively integrated with sugarcane, depending on seasonal conditions.

Intercropping Economics and Productivity

Field experiments at the Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam, have shown that although pure sugar beet cultivation produces the highest yield (76.5 t/ha), intercropping systems yield greater profitability. For instance, sugar beet intercropped with wheat generated the highest net return (Rs. 86,418/ha), followed by lentil (Rs. 83,665/ha) and barley (Rs. 76,783/ha). These findings highlight that while yields may slightly decline under intercropping, improved resource utilization and diversification significantly enhance overall income (Usmanikhail et al., 2013).

Similarly, a study conducted in Muzaffargarh district revealed that onion–tomato intercropping achieved a benefit-cost ratio of 1.59, surpassing that of sole onion (1.37) and tomato (1.48) cultivation. The land equivalent ratio of 1.31 indicated higher land-use efficiency, proving that intercropping not only maximizes income but also promotes ecological sustainability through complementary crop interactions (Khan et al., 2023).

For long-duration crops like sugarcane, intercropping provides an excellent opportunity to utilize open space between rows for short-duration crops such as lentil, gram, peas, mustard, garlic, and sunflower. Research from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Nazir et al., 2002) confirmed that these combinations substantially increased net incomes over sole sugarcane cultivation. The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.78) was recorded for sugarcane intercropped with lentil, followed by garlic (2.72) and peas (2.63). These results confirm that integrated cropping systems can simultaneously enhance productivity, profitability, and resource efficiency.

In essence, intercropping maximizes the use of sunlight, water, and nutrients while reducing the risks associated with monocropping. For Pakistan’s small and resource-constrained farmers, it presents a sustainable pathway toward economic resilience, food security, and climate adaptation.

Essential Precautions for Successful Intercropping

To ensure successful outcomes, several key precautions must be followed. The intercrop should always be treated as a supplementary, not dominant, crop aimed at generating additional income. Planting should occur in inter-row spaces, maintaining appropriate spacing (3–4 feet) to prevent excessive competition. Wider row spacing minimizes intercrop competition, especially in sugarcane systems, where ridge planting benefits vegetables. Farmers should prefer short-stature, short-duration varieties to avoid yield suppression of the main crop. For instance, late-planted sunflower or long-duration mustard may hinder sugarcane growth, whereas early planting (September–November) ensures compatibility.

In some cases, relay cropping where vegetables like chilies or onions are planted first, followed by sugarcane can yield better results. The use of organic manure (FYM) is strongly recommended, as it enhances soil fertility and supports high intercrop productivity. Exhaustive crops such as maize or sunflower can perform well when grown on organically enriched soil. Adequate fertilizer application, proper irrigation (avoiding over-flooding), and timely weed management are also crucial. After harvesting the intercrop, farmers must immediately focus on inter-row cultivation and nutrient management for the main crop to sustain overall yield potential.

Conclusion

Intercropping has proven to be a powerful tool for achieving sustainable agricultural development in Pakistan, particularly in sugarcane-based systems. Its multiple advantages, enhanced productivity, improved income stability, and reduced environmental impact, make it a win-win approach for farmers. Despite its potential, adoption remains limited due to low awareness and management constraints. To unlock its full benefits, coordinated efforts among policymakers, researchers, and farmers are essential.

Expanding intercropping practices, particularly by identifying suitable short-duration crops for integration, can transform the economic outlook of rural farming communities. Intercropping also aids in weed control, reducing the need for chemical herbicides and lowering production costs. Moreover, simultaneous planting of crops such as sugarcane and wheat during November–December can increase sugarcane productivity without compromising wheat yield.

In Pakistan’s irrigated agro-ecosystems, crop diversification through intercropping pulse crops with sugarcane can significantly improve resource-use efficiency, including nitrogen, water, and weed control. Incorporating crop residues further enriches soil organic carbon, mitigating the effects of chemical fertilizer dependence. By strategically growing short-duration cereals, pulses, vegetables, and spices as intercrops, sugarcane growers can ensure steady interim returns and long-term sustainability. Intercropping thus stands as a cornerstone of climate-smart agriculture, providing smallholders with a reliable path toward increased income, efficient resource use, and food security in an era of environmental uncertainty.

References: Dasbak & Asiegbu; Khan et al; Nazir et al; Usmanikhail et al; Wang et al.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writers are affiliated with the Drainage and Reclamation Institute of Pakistan (DRIP), Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and can be reached at nazargul43@gmail.com

Related Stories