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In the rain-fed areas of the country, mixed cropping is a common practice. The farmers mix millets, maize and pulses in the kharif season and wheat, gram and barley in the rabi season. In the areas ofjhuming (shifting cultivation), ten to sixteen crops are mixed and sown in the same field. The rationale behind mixing of crops is to get good agricultural return. In case the monsoon is good, the rice crop will give better production and in case of failure of monsoon, the less water requiring crops like maize, millets, bajra and pulses will give good harvest. Mixed croppingis a characteristic of subsistent agriculture.