Cover/Inter Crops cultivation in mango orchards

Under the Ghashful SEP project initiative, mango farmers in the project area have consistently received advice on cover crop cultivation. As a result, in the current season (2022), approximately 30% (estimated) of mango farmers in the Sapahar and Niamatpur areas have incorporated Maskalai as a cover crop in their mango orchards, a practice that was nearly nonexistent in 2020.

Comparing the trend of planting mangoes with other crops, the study observed a significant shift in farmers' perceptions towards cover crop cultivation. Many farmers have shown interest in integrating cover crops or intercropping within their mango orchards due to the additional income it generates. According to the study found that after the intervention of the SEP project, mango farmers in those areas demonstrated a keen interest in producing cover crops alongside their principal crops. The Ghashful SEP project distributed approximately 161 kg of Maskalai among 20 mango farmers to raise awareness. This initiative yielded remarkable results in the project area, where around 180 beneficiaries of the SEP project cultivated Maskalai on 240 acres of land. An estimated 62.4 tons of Maskalai are projected to be produced in the upcoming season, with a market value of about BDT 54,60,000.
Mr. Abdul Motin, a mango producer in Niamotpur, expressed his consideration for cultivating multiple crops on the same land to maximize economic benefits from the mango orchard. He emphatically stated that the training provided by the SEP project familiarized them with Maskalai cultivation, which is an environmentally friendly, income-generating crop that is easy to nurture in an economical manner. Initially, villagers discouraged me, claiming it would not be wise to grow crops inside the mango orchard, as both the crops and the mangoes would be damaged during cultivation and irrigation. However, I plowed the land and cultivated Maskalai. The orchard yielded a bumper crop of Maskalai, and I anticipate earning around 2.3 lakhs taka from it.