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It is a multi institutional network project supported by Department of Biotechnology under Indo-Swiss Collaboration in Biotechnology started July 2014. The main approach of the project is on a mixed cropping system of finger millet and pigeon pea, which will make optimal use of the biofertilizers by the allocation and re-distribution of water through hydraulic lift (bioirrigation). MSSRF play the role of socio-economic partner in India and collaborate with Swiss partners on carrying out a baseline survey at farm level to understand the farming systems, seed systems, intercropping patterns, input procurement and innovation behaviour of men and women farmers. It will be helpful to adapt and fine-tune the innovations to the needs and possibilities of resource-poor farmers in the target areas on the proposed technology in mixed cropping as well as bioinputs (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) applications. Furthermore, the team will assess the profitability of our innovations based on the data from the participatory on-farm trials. The research team intends to address the following research questions in collaboration with other partners in the network; For which agro-ecological conditions, intercropping patterns and types of farming households are biofertilization and polybag pre-culturing of pigeon pea profitable and feasible?; How can the planned mixed-cropping system be implemented through the concept of eco-enterprises? and In what ways and to what extent does a participatory approach add to improved adaptability and adoption of innovations?