Intercropping–-what are the advantages?

Abstract

Intercropping is defined as the growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same area of land. Although widely practised, particularly in tropical regions, it has often been considered to be a primitive form of farming that would in time be replaced by sole cropping. However, in spite of the emphasis of research and development on the intensification of monocrop systems, the practice of intercropping remains widespread and evidence is accumulating to indicate that in many situations it may represent a more efficient use of natural resources.