Question

How has market gardening helped in agricultural diversification?

Answer 1

Market gardening involves growing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers near urban markets. This practice has promoted agricultural diversification in the following ways:

• It encourages cultivation of multiple high-value crops, reducing dependency on a single crop.
• Farmers earn better income by supplying produce directly to nearby urban markets.
• It enhances food security, especially during monsoon failure, by ensuring alternative crops are available.
• Diversifying crops helps farmers become more resilient to climate change, pests, and price fluctuations.

Thus, market gardening has made farming more sustainable, profitable, and adaptable.