The farming model allows growers to harvest two crops from a single field, improving land use and creating an additional source of income without requiring extra farmland.

According to farmers, turmeric is planted between the wide rows of sugarcane, making efficient use of the available space while keeping cultivation costs low.

Agriculture experts said turmeric’s strong aroma and naturally occurring compounds may help reduce pest attacks to some extent. However, they added that scientific pest management practices should still be followed whenever required. They noted that the intercropping system can improve crop protection and may reduce dependence on chemical pesticides.

The model is gaining popularity because it lowers cultivation costs, reduces the risk associated with relying on a single crop and provides farmers with additional income from the same field.

Progressive farmer Natthulal Shukla said he has been growing turmeric as an intercrop with sugarcane for the past two years. He described turmeric as a medicinal crop with steady market demand and said it offers good returns with relatively low production costs.

Shukla said he cultivates turmeric organically, unlike much of the turmeric available in the market that is produced using chemical inputs. According to him, organic cultivation improves the quality of the produce and helps secure better prices.

He explained that a single row of turmeric is planted between sugarcane rows spaced about five feet apart. Using this method, he harvests around four to five quintals of turmeric from a single row. He currently practices sugarcane-turmeric intercropping on nearly one acre of land.

The success of the model in Lakhimpur Kheri is encouraging more farmers in the region to adopt intercropping as a way to diversify income while improving the productivity of their sugarcane fields.