Page 186 - CW E-Magazine (5-12-2023)

Special Report Special Report

Resilient agriculture for food and nutrition security lity to opt in for nutrient-rich food like another area, in which nutrient man- Innovations essential
fruits, vegetables, pulses, meet, milk, agement requires reorientation. Under
Scientifi c and technological inno-
etc. The problem can be addressed CA, there are scientifi c evidence for vations are essential for maintain-
ndia is the largest populous coun- Balanced use of fertilisers ARVIND CHAUDHARY through bio-fortifi cation of food with lower nutrient requirements, higher ing food and nutrition security on
try in the world, surpassing China. Use of fertilisers is indispensable for minerals, nutrient-rich mid-day meals effi ciencies and reduced environmen- sustainable basis. Climate-smart agri-
IFood security has been a national agricultural development. For achiev- Director General and numerous other government initia- tal risks. Refi ning fertiliser practices, culture is a comprehensive approach
priority since Independence to feed the ing full yield potential of crops, it is Fertiliser Association of India tives. Indian scientists are working promoting high nutrient-use effi ciency intended to preserve sustainability,
Email: dg@faidelhi.org
rapidly growing population. Food grain vital that soil- and crop-specifi c doses seriously towards developing varieties crop variants, advancing sub-surface resilience, and mitigation in the
production increased by more than six of N, P and K containing fertilisers, Such fertilisers lead to additional bene- enriched in zinc and iron. Production application mechanisation, explor- agricultural production system. An
times from 1951-52 to 2022-23 and inclusive of secondary and micronutri- fi ts to growers by way of improving and use of millets for nutrition security ing fertigation, and real-time nutrient integrated, evidence-based, and
outpaced the growth of population, ents wherever defi cient, are applied in nutrient requirements of the crop. Among should also be given more impetus. management tools are crucial for transformative approach to address
which went by about four times during balanced manner to individual fi elds on such products, 100% water-soluble improving CA’s productivity and the food and climate issues requires
this period. There has also been impres- the basis of soil test-based recommen- fertilisers have been witnessing good Proper nutrient management is one sustainability. coordinated efforts at all levels,
sive growth in production of oilseeds, dations. growth. Application of 100% water- of the major factors bringing success in from research to policies, and across
sugarcane, cotton, jute & mesta, fruit & soluble fertilisers, with drip irriga- precision agriculture. Modern tools and Increasing food production and commercial, governmental, and civil
vegetable crops. Production of horti- Imbalance in use of fertilisers is an tion, has great potential in agriculture, technologies such as remote sensing, improving distribution and delivery meth- society sectors.
cultural crops (fruits & vegetables) and uneconomic waste of scarce resources. particularly for horticultural crops. drone technology, variable rate techno- ods require a comprehensive strategy
food grains reached a record level of Long-term fertiliser experiments (LT- logy, crop modelling, site-specifi c because of the enormous strain that Identifi cation, creation, and adop-
about 352-mt and 329.7-mt, respec- FEs) carried out in India have amply Drip-fertigated greenhouse techno- nutrient management and mobile natural resource depletion and rapidly tion at fi eld levels of suitable loca-
tively, in 2022-23. The country has not demonstrated that use of fertilisers in logy is the best example of climate- applications are helping farmers make changing climate conditions place on tion-specifi c climate-smart agriculture
only become self-reliant in food grains balanced proportion can sustain soil resilient agriculture. This technology be- informed decisions about better nutrient agricultural systems. To bridge the technologies will go a long way in
but also a food exporter, with adoption productivity. Lack of P and K fertili- comes more relevant and useful for the management, reduce waste and mini- income gap between agriculture and enhancing agriculture production,
of better farm technologies. sers have resulted in sharp decline in small and marginal farmers to realise mize environment footprints. The tools non-agriculture, we need to bring about farmers’ income, elevating poverty and
crop response to N, as evidenced by better returns even during offseason. also help in improving farm producti- a radical change in Indian agriculture ensuring food and nutrition security on
Threats to agricultural sustainability the grain yields of LTFEs. Integrated Some of the State governments subsi- vity and farmers’ income. through innovations and interventions. sustainable basis.
Population will continue to rise and plant nutrient supply system (IPNSS) – dies on greenhouse technology can be The necessity is to have a sustainable
may reach to about 149-crore by 2030, comprising fertilisers, organic manure, utilised by farmers for more productive Conservation agriculture food systems in light of the climate [Indian Journal of Fertilisers, 19(11),
from about 142-crore now. Making the bio-fertilisers and recycling of agricul- uses and realising better net returns. Conservation agriculture (CA) is change. 1086-1087, November 2023]
huge population nutritionally secured, tural wastes – needs to be popularised
with change in food habits, presents a among farmers. In this context, suitable Water use effi ciency
daunting challenge in view of stagna- fertiliser policy intervention and bring- Water is the most important natu- Target Your Market More Effectively
tion in net cultivated area due to urbani- ing awareness among all stakeholders ral resource for civilisation to survive.
sation and industrialisation. Fragmen- to ensure balanced use of fertilisers Agriculture is the largest consumer of IndiaChemTrade
tation of land holdings; exploitation and adoption of IPNSS are necessary. water. Over-exploitation of groundwater Free for subscribers of Chemical Weekly
of natural resources; shrinking water Accelerated adoption ‘towards organics’, resource is leading to falling ground-
resources, biodiversity and farm profi ts; i.e., integrated management approach, water and creating hydrological droughts. IndiaChemTrade provides consolidated trade statistics of India. The information provided here is based on
climate-change induced adverse im- in intensive agricultural areas (food In canal-irrigated areas, due to seepage the annual trade data published by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics,
pacts; and emerging energy and envi- hubs) and ‘certifi ed organic farming’ losses and over-use of water for irriga- Government of India. The database can be searched by: Chemical Name/Harmonised Code to obtain the
ronmental concerns, are posing serious with combination of tradition, innova- tion, problems of salinity and alkalinity consolidated trade (import or export) in that item; or by Country to obtain the trade (import or export) in all
threats to agricultural sustainability, tion and science in the de-facto organic are major issues. Scientifi c manage- chemicals and related products between India and that country.
food and nutritional security. areas, i.e., hills and rain fed/dryland ment of water is indispensable to
regions, can contribute towards food agricultural growth, and sustainability ChemXchange
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goals of ‘zero hunger’ by 2030, produc- increased income of farm households. application of fertilisers before or after Open to all – no subscription required
tion of food grain and other crops should irrigation, as per the situation, improves ChemXchange – the chemical exchange with a difference – is where you can identify your buyers and
be accelerated to meet the demand of Specialty fertiliser products nutrient- as well as water-use effi ciency. supplyers on-line, any time. Listing in this unique platform is free to all advertisers in the print version
food, fi bre, feed and fuel of the growing The growing requirement of high
population with nutrition security. To quality crops, environmental concerns Nutrition security of Chemical Weekly for a period of 12 months.
realise a paradigm shift, there is a need and thrust on improved nutrient use Malnutrition is a cause of concern For more information contact: 022-24044471 / 72
to make Indian agriculture more produc- effi ciency have driven the growth of in women and children due to poor pur-
tive, effi cient and resource conserving. specialty/innovative fertiliser products. chasing power of poor and their inabi- Email: corporate@chemicalweekly.com or log on to chemicalweekly.com

186 Chemical Weekly December 5, 2023 Chemical Weekly December 5, 2023 187

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