maize polambadi continued

Mixed/inter cropping:
farmers have taken up inter and mixed cropping with
AMARANTHUS , CORIANDER,RADISH, PALAK ,HIBISCUS
The vegetable crops will come to harvest with in 20-30 days .
Income:the additional net income excluding family labour , per acre is
Rs.5000-6000 /-
Farmers have no need to spend any amount from their pocket towards
fertilizers ,irrigation charges for maize crop.
observations/results:
How staggered sowings helped:During Aesa conducted on 2 feb '06
farmers observed heavy infestation of pinkborer in some fields.
(Azadirachtin (neem based pesticide) was supplied on 50% subsidy.)
How ever on late sown crop pink borer was not seen.The predator popuations
increased in every early sown field have taken care of late sown crop.
On 8 March 06 no pink borer was observed.
How mixed cropping helped:
farmers observed more and more populations of LADY BIRD BEETLES on Radish
and Amarathus leaves .
Almost 3-4 paederus insects and 2 coccinellid beetles
found on each maize plant during ,mid february to march AESA observations.