Multi-Layer Farming and Its Benefits, A Comprehensive Guide

Five years ago, Ravish took over his father's five-acre farm in southern Karnataka. Like many farms in the region, his family used to areca nut and coconut cultivation. However, the farm soon faced water scarcity, leading the family to invest in multiple borewells, which ultimately resulted in financial losses. To address this challenge, Ravish started multi-layer farming, and this innovative method completely transformed his fortunes. Crops like chili are grown around tall trees like coconut, improving soil quality and biodiversity.

What is Multi-Layer Farming?:

Multi-layer farming is a method where multiple crops are grown in the same space by utilizing the vertical dimensions of the land. This involves planting crops that grow below the ground first, followed by vegetables and other plants.

Ease of Farming with the Multi-Layer Cropping System:

Small farmers struggle to survive in today's costly agricultural environment. To reduce farming expenses, they need to adopt multi-layer farming. Ravish has developed an 8-10 layer system on his farm. Today, he grows around 70 varieties of fruits and vegetables on his land. This method allows for multiple crops to be cultivated in the same place. In a monoculture system, a single disease or price drop can ruin the farmer, but in polyculture, farmers are not dependent on one crop. If one crop is affected by disease, income from others can still be ensured. According to Ravish, farmers with 2 to 3 acres should definitely practice multi-layer farming.

Profitability of Multi-Layer Farming for Farmers: The multi-layer farming technique is highly beneficial for small and medium farmers who have limited land. They can grow various crops simultaneously in the same area. This method reduces farming costs and significantly increases yield and profit. Experts suggest that while the initial investment might be around one lakh rupees, farmers can easily earn 5-6 lakh rupees through this technique.