FAI-IZA Symposium Article

FAI-IZA Symposium Zinc in Crops and Human Health in Jharkhand

T

he Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) in collaboration with the International Zinc Association (IZA) organised one day Symposium on "Zinc in Crops and Human Health in [harkhand" on March 3, 2012 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, IAS, Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Jharkhand, inaugurated the Symposium. Dr. M.P. Pandey, Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi was the Guest of Honour, Dr. A.K. Sarkar, Dean (Agriculture), Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi delivered the Keynote Address.

The Special Address was delivered by Mr. Job Zachariah, Chief, UNICEF State Office for [harkhand, Ranchi and Dr. Andrew Green, Director-ZNI, Environment, Health & Sustainability, IZA, Durham, Ne, USA delivered the Opening Address to the participants. The Symposium was attended by about 140 participants representing Department of Agriculture and Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Jharkhand, Birsa Agricultural University, UNICEF, ICAR & KVKs, Fertiliser Industry and NGOs. In his inaugural address, Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, IAS, Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Jharkhand appreciated the efforts of FAI and IZA in organizing the Symposium in the state of Jharkhand on 'Zinc in Crops and Human Health'. He informed that the state had witnessed a record foodgrain production in the current year with 51 lakh tonnes of paddy which was a record in itself. This has been possible due to the hard labour and continuous efforts by the farmers in Jharkhand.

He congratulated FAI and the Fertiliser Industry for

Mr. Arun Kumar Singh, Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Jharkhand inaugurating the Symposium by lighting the lamp. Also seen in the photo are (L to R): Mr. Y.v.N. Murthy, Dr. R.K. Tewatia, Dr. Andrew Green, Mr. Job Zachariah, Dr. Soumitra Das and Dr. A.K. Sarkar

Sh Singh further mentioned that participating in agriculture most of the area of 17lakhs hectares operations and supply fertilisers which increased productivity from under rice cultivation in Jharkhand was having zinc deficiency, which 20 to 30 q/ha.

Fertiliser consumption increased from 54 to was affecting the crop production and impacting the human health.

104 kg/ha. He underlined the need Zinc deficiency was responsible to carry on to increasing ~for approximately 16% of productivity.

Dr. M.P. Pandey, Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi delivering the address to the participants

Indian Journal of Fertilisers, April 2012

need to be created among the farmers about increasing need of zinc in improving crop yield and human health.

Technical Session - I, chaired by Dr. Andrew Green (Centre). Also seen in the photo are (L to R): Dr. Ajit Kumar Prasad, Dr. B.K. Agarwal, Dr. R.P. Singh and Dr. Soumitra Das

respiratory infections. An increase of 30 - 35 in crop productivity has been reported with zinc application.

He emphasised the need of improving availability of zinc sulphate fertiliser.

He highlighted the importance of soil testing services to be provided in the state through Public-PrivatePartnership, for which the fertiliser companies have to come forward. He appealed the FAI and IZA to make a joint move along with the Govt of Jharkhand in addressing the challenges of zinc deficiency in the state so that farmers can harvest the rich benefits of it.

Earlier, Dr. M.P. Paridey, Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, in his address, mentioned that zinc was very important nutrient for plant growth.

About 31% soils in Jharkhand were deficient in zinc.

He advocated that zinc should be applied to both crops in rice-wheat rotation to get optimum yield and address the problem of malnutrition in the state. Dr Pandey congratulated the FAI and IZA for their efforts in organizing the Symposium on the topical theme of 'Zinc in Crops and Human Health in [harkhand'.

In his Keynote Address,

Dr. A.K.

Indian Journal of Fertilisers, April 2012

Sarkar, Dean (Agriculture), Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, reiterated that zinc was essential for plants as well as human health.

Various diseases have been reported due to zinc deficiency. He observed that zinc should be included in balanced fertiliser use along with N, P & K. He restated that 31 % of the soils in the state, dominated by acid soils, were deficient in zinc. Dr. Sarkar informed that cereal grains do not contain more than 25 ppm zinc, resulting in deficiency of zinc tn humans.

He emphasised that regular monitoring of zinc deficiency in soils by using GIS was the need of the hour. Time has come to maintain zinc level in plant by various ways. Lot of awareness

Mr. Job Zachariah, Chief, UNICEF State Office for [harkhand, Ranchi, in his Special Address, mentioned that zinc was essential for human nutrition. About 40% of children are suffering from Diarrhoea, Pneumonia and malnutrition problems due to zinc deficiency in Jharkhand. He showed his concern that the awareness level of micronutrient deficiency, including zinc deficiency was ,very poor in the state. He stated the benefit of food fortification with zinc and also highlighted the importance of zinc bio-fortification.

Dr. Andrew Green, Director - Zinc Nutrient Initiative and Environment, Health & Sustainability, IZA, Durham, NC, USA, in his Opening Address, mentioned that zinc deficiency was a global issue both in crops and human health. About l/3rd of global population is deficient in zinc and 8 lakh people die due to zinc deficiency every year. Briefing about IZA and the activities of the Zinc Nutrient Initiative in different countries like India, China and Brazil, he mentioned that zinc had emerged as the most widespread micronutrient deficiency in soils and crops worldwide, resulting in severe yield losses and deterioration in nutritional

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FAI-IZA SYMPOSI

Zinc in Crops and Human He in Jharkhand

Technical Session (L-R) - Dr. R.K. Tetoaiia, Mr. Rajendra Pal, Dr. A.K. Sarkar and Mr. ].S. Chaudhary

119

Dr. Andrew Green, delivering Director delivering the concluding the concluding remarksremarks quality.

He stated that the initiative had been launched in India to address the zinc deficiency in soils, crops and humans through increased use of zinc fertilisers.

He further mentioned that about 50% of Indian soils were deficient in zinc which was impacting the crop productivity and affecting the human health adversely.

If this trend continues, the country may land up into wider zinc deficiency, to 63% or even more by the year 2025. Therefore, concerted efforts by all concerned should be made to address the global issue.

Earlier, Dr. R.K. Tewatia, Chief (Agricultural Sciences), FAI, New Delhi welcomed the Chief Guest, dignitaries, invitees, and participants.

He mentioned that Zinc deficiency was most acute among micro nutrients. About 50% of soil samples have been found deficient in zinc. The deficiency of zinc has emerged as one of the major concerns for crops as well as human health. It is high time to recognise the importance of zinc and create awareness about the increasing need of zinc to improve crop productivity and human health.

It was in this context that FAI and IZA were organizing the Symposium on "Zinc in Crops and Human Health in Jharkhand".

He was happy to

mention that it was the 1 st state level programme of 2012, 2nd in the northern region and 5th in the country.

At the end of the inaugural session, Dr. Soumitra Das, Director - India Programme, Zinc Nutrient Initiative, IZA, New Delhi, proposed a vote of thanks.

The Technical Session - I on 'Zinc in Crops and Human Health' was chaired by Dr. Andrew Green, Director - Zinc Nutrient Initiative and Environment, Health & Sustainability, IZA, USA. Four papers were presented in this session, namely "Zinc Nutrient Initiative of IZA - An Overview"

by Dr Soumitra Das, Director India Programme (ZNI), IZA, New Delhi; "Zinc in Human Health" by Dr. Ajit Kumar Prasad, Director (Health), Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Jharkhand, Ranchi; "Status of Zinc in Soils of Jharkhand" by Dr. B.K. Agarwal, Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, BAU, Ranchi and "Crop Responses to Zinc in Jharkhand"

by Dr. R.P. Singh, Chairman & University Professor, Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, BAU, Ranchi.

The Technical Session - 11, Panel Discussion on 'Policy Initiatives to

Encourage Zinc Use in [harkhand' was chaired by Dr. A. K. Sarkar, Dean (Agriculture), Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi. In all, four pane lists presented their views in the Panel Discussion.

Mr. Pravin Kumar Gupta, Joint Director (Agriculture Statistics), Directorate of Statistics & Evaluation, Govt of Jharkhand, Ranchi presented on "Department of Agriculture Initiatives". Mr. J.S. Chaudhary, Director (SAMETI), Govt of Iharkharid, Ranchi presented on "Department of Agriculture (SAMETI) Initiatives".

Dr. R.K. Tewatia, Chief (Agricultural Sciences), FAI, New Delhi and Mr. Rajendra Pal, State Marketing Manager, IFFCO, Ranchi presented on "Fertiliser Industry Initiatives" .

Dr. Andrew Green, Director - Zinc Nutrient Initiative and Environment, Health & Sustainability, IZA, USA was felicitated by presenting a Plaque

by Mr. J.S. Chaudhary, Director (SAMETI) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Govt of Jharkhand, Ranchi for his visit to the state. In the Concluding Session, Dr. Andrew Green delivered the concluding remarks.

The programme ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. R.K. Tewatia, Chief (Agricultural Sciences), FAI, New Delhi .• Indian Journal of Fertilisers, April

2012