In the 1960s, “Flower power,” a term symbolizing peace within the hippie culture, took on a new, literal meaning in the farms of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India. Led by Dr. Deepa Senapathi from the University of Reading, a team collaborated with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation to enhance crop yield and quality by strategically planting marigold, sunflower, sesame, cowpea, red gram, or black gram alongside crops like mango and moringa.
The initiative aimed to attract a greater variety of bees and insects to these companion crops, subsequently improving pollination for main crops. Notably, the introduction of marigold amidst moringa in Tamil Nadu fields resulted in larger moringa pods and a 30% increase in harvestable fruits.
The research team collaborated with smallholder farmers, monitoring 12 farms with companion crops and 12 without. Farmers, as showcased in a Reading University video, reported increased crop yields due to insect pollination from companion crops, providing them with an additional income source.
Dr. Senapathi, drawing on a technique commonly used in the UK, emphasized the success of planting wildflowers on agricultural land to boost insect pollinator numbers. The study, supported by UK Research and Innovation, explored the applicability of UK research evidence to tropical regions, demonstrating improved farm productivity without resorting to chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
The results of this groundbreaking India-based study, published on November 28 in the Journal of Applied Ecology, signify a significant step toward sustainable farming practices, merging traditional wisdom with modern agricultural science.
