Zaid crops to the rescue

Given the uncertainty of agrarian life, zaid crops can substantially pad farmer profits, boost yields and improve their quality of life

At a time when farmer distress is on an all-time high, I find myself looking for farming models that are able to tweak traditional agricultural practices to increase profit. Years ago, I saw one such model in Bharatpur (Rajasthan) where farmers fed their cattle the same grain they’d traditionally given them — but after they’d sprouted it. The simple act of sprouting improved their milk yields substantially. Last year, I met the good people of Nagla Tula who craft garments from desi rain-fed cotton that they commission farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana to grow, reviving traditional and long-forgotten