Concept:Mixed cropping means growing two or more different crops together on the same piece of land.
It is a risk-management practice used by farmers to protect against total loss.
Explanation:In mixed cropping, crops like maize and cowpea or millet and groundnut are planted together in one field.
The primary purpose is to reduce the risk of crop failure.
If pests, diseases, or harsh weather destroy one crop, the other crop may still survive.
This ensures that the farmer gets some harvest and income instead of losing everything.
Mixed cropping also helps guard against market price fluctuations for a single crop.
Option A is incorrect because mixed cropping does not focus on maximizing the yield of only one crop.
Option B is incorrect because growing several crops together does not simplify farm management.
Option C is incorrect because enhancing soil fertility through crop rotation is a different practice.
Therefore, the main aim of mixed cropping is to reduce the risk of crop failure.
Answer:D. Reducing the risk of crop failure