This is especially true in tropical or subtropical areas of the world with wet and dry seasons. Where water for irrigation is available, exploitation of the abundant solar energy in the dry season is possible. Less dramatic increases can also result from other forms of multicropping. The exploding world population continues to place a severe strain on existing land resources and their ability to provide enough food. Any technology that can result in increased food production from present land holdings has great potential for easing hunger around the world.
Some researchers consider multiple cropping the most important of today's agricultural practices.
Both high and low technology societies can profit from greater use of multiple cropping. Multicropping is not a new agricultural technique. 300 B.C. The Maya Indians in Central America and the Incas in South America practiced both sequential and intercropping. Sequential cropping of plants with relatively short growing seasons offers better total annual use of land than does a single crop system. It is particularly important to use the improved, early maturing, high yielding varieties.