Multi-layer Farming

Introduction:

In agriculture, multi-layer farming is the practice of growing two or more plants of different heights in the same piece of land at the same time instead of just one crop.

Multi-layer farming helps smallholder farmers to grow various seasonal vegetables and horticultural crops throughout the year while ensuring food and nutritional security for the household. This farming provide with an additional income from the sale of surplus produce.

Multi-layer farming is also called as multi-tire farming and multistoried cropping.

Multi layer cropping allows the farmers to get a good result of harvest and more earning on the same piece of land by using available sources such as fertilizers, seeds water etc. 

Principles of Multi-layer Farming:

Multilayer Farming is also integrated farming which is based on the principle of-High Density Planting-Making the utilization of  manure, water, land to obtain maximum productivity per unit area.

Multilayer Farming use maximum available resources of land, labour and capital.

Multilayer Farming reduce the cost of production and input used.

Development of organic and sustainable farming make the use of chemicals agriculture.

Multilayer farming increase productivity and it will ensuring the food and nutritional security to household.

In Multilayer farming we can utilize the resources with higher efficiency.

Process of multilayer farming

Land preparation:

In the 36 X 36 square foot plot, before preparation of beds, 300 kg of cow dung or vermicompost with one kg of trichoderma powder is applied to the soil. 

Planting:

Crops, Fruits and Vegetables were Chosen based on their height and duration of growth to ensure adequate sunlight and different harvesting periods. 

Benefits of multi-layer farming

Some crops mature earlier than others. So we can generate income on regular basis. This helps to generate employment throught the year from harvesting several crops.

It generates jobs and employment opportunities.

Multilayer Farming helps to utilization of soil water and other resources very effectively.

Multilayer farming prevent water evaporation from soil as an effect, 70% of water is saved.

It increase biodiversity which can reduces some pests and diseases for plant and crops. 

In this type of farming system there is no effects on climate change. 

It reduces the impacts of hazards such as high intensity rainfall, soil erosion and landslides

It helps in the optimum use of land for the Agricultural production. Those who have small piece of land can also produce large amount of Agricultural commodities.

Multilayer farming helps in effective control of pests and diseases and in reducing investment cost.

In multilayer farming we can use natural resources accurately.