Mixed cropping refers to simultaneously growing more than one crop in the same land area as a mixture.

Mixed cropping of Sorghum-pigeonpea is most common.
Mixtures with green gram (mung), black gram (urid), cowpea and even with pearl millet and other
cereals, vegetables, etc. during kharif are practiced under different situations.
During rabi the mixing of sorghum and safflower is the most common practice.

Mixed cropping is practiced in traditional subsisting farming to meet the domestic needs of the farmer's family.
Thus, the number of crops grown mixed varies depending on the family needs.

        Even though crops in the mixed cropping meets the farmer’s family needs, the yield of crops will be very low due           to the competition between the crops for water, light, nutrients etc.
        A better cropping system will be adopting intercropping system involving the major crops.
        However, the crop plants required to meet the family needs could still be grown on the field bunds, on the field             borders, and in the house back yards.