Government is planning to promote multi-layer farming as part of its efforts to help increase farmers’ income.

Multi-layer farming means growing compatible plants of different heights on the same field and at the same time. It is generally practiced in orchards & plantation crops for utmost use of solar energy even under high planting density.

Agriculture Ministry said multi-layer farming opens a new door for cultivators to earn all round the year as there is less risk of complete crop damage. In addition, it is a potential technology as it makes use of natural resources properly. The system helps in better use of environmental factors, better yield stability in different environmental conditions and conservation of soil & other resources.

Regarding a question on the utility of multi-layer farming, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister said that the Directorate of Arecanut & Spices Development in Kozhikode together with the Central Plantation Crop Research Institute, Kasargod has successfully displayed Arecanut based cropping Systems in Kerala and Karnataka from 2006 to 2018.