How mixed farming turned a Hazaribag mango orchard into a year-round income source

In Kolhu village, Tatijharia block of Hazaribag district, 50-year-old Vasudev Prasad has built a mango orchard that stays productive all year round by growing pigeon pea, tomatoes, brinjals and other vegetables in the gaps between his mango trees. The intercrops provide steady cash flow while the mango plants continue to mature.

Prasad planted the orchard across three acres in 2021 after quitting a job as a cook at a senior official’s residence in Uttar Pradesh. He used his own savings to source grafted mango saplings from private nurseries, while the plantation received support under the MGNREGA horticulture scheme.

Local farmers say agriculture experts often recommend this kind of integrated farming for orchard owners, since it improves land use and reduces dependence on a single crop. Prasad’s experience has strengthened confidence in the model, with income now coming from both fruits and vegetables.

This season Prasad sold around 50 quintals of mangoes at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg, up from roughly 30 quintals last year, and expects further gains before harvest ends. He credits his family’s support at every stage, from planting to marketing, and says neighbouring farmers now visit his orchard to learn the approach for themselves.