Page 7 - Crop Booklet

Why Green Gram, Mellons and Elephant Foot for Zaid?

• Green gram is a very hardy crop, requires minimal irrigation (germination is important and
then even one irrigation is sufficient) and can be grown any types of land (upland, low land
and medium land).

• This is a short duration crop (65 to 72 days crop) and adds value to Kharif crop (maintains
residual moisture and supplements soil health).

• Production of Green gram will not only supplement family’s income (thus combating hunger
period) but also enrich soil health as this is known to be one of the green manure and fixes
nitrogen from air naturally.

• Pulse, being one of the biggest sources of protein, will supplement family in enriching their
“FOOD THALI”.
• Melons having longer shelf life thus easier to sell in the local market and fetches comparatively
better price in summer.

• The team is also focussing on elephant food which is very much suitable for degraded land
and requires nearly no care. With longer shelf life this can be sold throughout year and
fetches better price.

Other Outcomes:

• Average Cropping intensity to increase at least by 2.5 fold (average cropping intensity in
Jharkhand is 100%).

• After Zaid intervention the team will be working in almost all villages with 97% of targeted
beneficiaries .

Coverage across season under crop intensification program:

Coverage
Sl. No Season
Acres House Hold
1 Kharif 2019-20 68,100 48000
2 Rabi 2019-20 1,10,000 90000
3 Zaid 39,000 1,77,000

Coverage of Beneficiaries across cropping Season

200000

150000

100000

50000

0
Kharif 2019-20 Rabi 2019-20 Zaid
48000 90000 177000