Description
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the Study
Agriculture plays a significant role in most of the developing countries. But due to the increased
population and development of urban clusters along with industrial growth in the developing
world, there is shrinkage in the availability of land for farming because of its non-agricultural
uses. Under these circumstances, the adoption of high-intensity cropping systems may be the
viable option to increase agricultural productivity and production as a whole Mohammed (2013).
Agriculture is a tradition and heritage in most countries. Traditional farming practices are
evidenced around the world with the growing of crop mixtures which is nothing but a form of
mixed cropping or intercropping. The farming systems of ancient periods in different corners on
the planet are documented as having grown crop mixtures which were nurtured by the people for
a long time Muoneke (2007). Early civilizations evidenced the use of intercropping that might be
in a different form. South Asian subcontinent experienced growing of diversified crops with
environmental diversity Parkash (2000) since the Indus Civilization(c. 2600–1900 BC) in the
form of mixed cropping or multi-cropping or intercropping (Tolossa (1996).Furthermore, the
intercropping system was well known in Greece since about 300 B.C which indicated growing of
cereals and pulses Walelign Demisie (2006) in which pulses were planted at different times
during the growing season of cereals like wheat and barley Wiley Rw (1995). Traditional mixed
cropping has enough potential to contribute as much as 15–20% in the food basket of the world.
In Latin America, maize-based intercropping is very common Seasay(1997). In Africa,89% of
cowpeas and in Colombia 90% of beans are growing in mixed stands; however, in Malwai
intercropping is very common and occupies 94% of cultivated land Teye Tessema
(2001).Various types of intercropping were known and presumably employed in ancient Greece
about 300 B.C. Theophrastus, among the greatest early Greek philosophers and natural scientists,
noted that wheat, barley, and certain pulses could be planted at various times during the growing
season often integrated with vines and olives, indicating knowledge of the use of intercropping.