Intercropping maize with legumes like greengram can increase productivity and water use efficiency in the northwest Himalayas. Planting one row of greengram with two rows of maize resulted in the highest maize yield. Including legumes in intercropping improved production and economic benefits. Greengram was the most competitive intercrop, while sesame was the least competitive. Intercropping maize with greengram provided a 9.8% yield gain compared to sole cropping. Overall, intercropping maize with legumes can lead to sustainable and economically advantageous yields in a shorter time frame.