Journal of Food Security, 2013, Vol. 1, No. 2, 58-64 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfs/1/2/8 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jfs-1-2-8 Mitigating Food Security Options through Climate Resilient Mustard-maize Based Intercropping Sequences for North-western –Himalayas BRIJ NANDAN * , B.C. SHARMA, ANIL KUMAR Pulses Research Sub-station, She-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu AraziFarm, Samba, Jammu & Kashmir *Corresponding author: bmankotia333@gmail.com Received November 10, 2013; Revised November 28, 2013; Accepted December 17, 2013 Abstract Field experiments were conducted at Dry Land Research Sub-station of Sher-e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu during rabi (winter) (winter) season of 2008-09 to kharif (monsoon)(monsoon) season of 2010 on the same site and layout. The experimental field was well drained upland with bulk density of 1.46 Mg/m 3 . The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam with low in organic carbon (0.42%), available nitrogen (174.2 kg/ha) and medium in available phosphorus (16.5 kg/ha), potassium (124.0 kg/ha) and sulphur (20.4 kg/ha). The study was conducted with the objective to identify the most suitable and promising mustard-maize intercropping sequence in changing climate scenario under kandi areas of Jammu region. The two years experimental findings revealed that the system productivity (47.0 and 49.1 kg/ha/day), production efficiency (59.6 and 62.3), nitrogen build up (18.7 kg/ha)and net returns (Rs.71608 and Rs.71090 /ha) with a benefit –cost ratio of 2.54 and 2.32 during the year 2008-09 and 2009-10,respectively were higher in the sequence where mustard was intercropped with fieldpea when succeeded by maize grown in association with cowpea followed by the sequence mustard+fieldpea succeeded by maize in association with moongbean intercropping sequences. Keywords: mustard-maize intercropping sequences, kandi areas, system productivity, climate smart agriculture, North-western-Himalayas Cite This Article: BRIJ NANDAN, B.C. SHARMA, and ANIL KUMAR, “Mitigating Food Security Options through Climate Resilient Mustard-maize Based Intercropping Sequences for North-western –Himalayas.” Journal of Food Security 1, no. 2 (2013): 58-64. doi: 10.12691/jfs-1-2-8. 1. Introduction Indian sub-continent predominantly represents wide spectrum of climate ranging from arid to semi-arid, sub humid and humid with wider variation in rainfall amount and pattern. Seasonal temperature fluctuations are also vast [1]. Soils representing rainfed regions are marginally low in organic matter status. The first predominant cause of soil degradation in rainfed regions undoubtedly is water erosion [2]. The process of erosion sweeps away the topsoil along with organic matter and exposes the subsurface horizons. The second major indirect cause of degradation is loss of organic matter by virtue of temperature mediated fast decomposition of organic matter and robbing away of its fertility. Above all, the several other farming practices such as reckless tillage methods, harvest of every small component of biological produce and virtually no return of any plant residue back to the soil, burning of the existing residue in the field itself for preparation of clean seed bed, open grazing etc aggravate the process of soil degradation. Ensuring food security under a changing climate is one of the major challenges of the 21st Century. In 2010, about 925 million people in the world were food insecure of which 16 per cent of population was in developing countries. Global population is projected to rise from 7 billion currently to over 9 billion by 2050, creating intense demand for a more diverse diet requiring additional resources. Competition for labour, land, water and energy will intensify in an attempt to meet the need for food, fodder, fuel and fibre, while globalization may further expose the food system to the vagaries of economic and political forces. Estimates indicate that global food production must increase by 70 – 100 per cent by 2050 to meet human demand. Agriculture is most vulnerable sector to climate change, more than any other major economic sector, it will need to adapt to the changing climate. Under optimistic lower-end projections of global warming, climate change may reduce crop yields by between 10 and 20 per cent. Increasing temperatures and declining precipitation are already reducing yields of grains and other primary crops in many parts of the vast semi-arid tropics where so many of the poorest reside. Increased incidence of droughts, floods and pests may also lead to yield instability and a sharp increase in prices of major food crops. 1°C rise in temperature may reduce rice yields by 4-5 m t and wheat yields by 3-4 mt in India. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) tackles the food