Higher yields and profits from new crop rotations permitting integration of mediculture with agriculture in the Indo-Gangetic plains

The results of a survey conducted in 100 villages of 7 districts located in Uttar Pradesh in the central Indo-Gangetic plains on the land cropping pat tern and profits to the farmers per unit land and area are presented, It is shown that sugarcane is cultivated in about 19.5% of the land. Rice remain s the principal kharif crop in the area, occupying about 76% of land. Conve ntional rice-wheat/Brassica/legume, rice-potato and rice-mint rotations ben efitted farmers to the extent of roughly Rs 30,000 ha(-1) year(-1) Introduc tion of new rotations based upon newly available short duration Kosi variet y of mint is permitting practice of rice-wheat/Brassica/legume-mint and ric e-potato-mint rotations, bringing: a profit of approximately Rs 61,000 ha(- 1) year(-1) to the farmers of the area. Future prospects of integration of short duration medicinal and aromatic crops (mediculture) between food grai n crops (agriculture) like the above, for the development of agriculture, i ndustry and employment are discussed.