From Green Revolution to micro-nutritient deficiency

India has discovered an unfortunate consequence of the Green Revolution: high yielding varieties are suffering from micro nutrient deficiencies Recent research indicates that most crops cultivated with Green Revolution material and techniques show alarming deficiencies of trace elements such as zinc and iron, which is a serious obstacle to high-quality food production. Zinc enables plants to absorb nitrogen whilst phosphorous andiron promote the synthesis and maintenance of chlorophyll. Zinc deficiency can reduce rice yields by 0.16 to 3.9 tonnes per hectare wheat yields by 0.01 to 1.98t/ha and maize yields bv 0.06 to 3.4t/ha. Micro-nutrient deficiencies also affect human and animal health. In staple foods, zinc deficiency can lead to retarded growth in children. As far as livestock are concerned, the lack of zinc also results in retarded growth or parakeratosis as well as bone and joint problems. Trying to restore the deficiency of one particular micro-nutrient by supplying a chemical supplement often proved inadequate and costly. Traditional farming systems may provide easier and more appropriate solutions, such as multiple cropping with leguminous plants and the addition of organic manure. Research conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University has shown that the addition of simple farm manure is effective in counteracting these deficiencies. Traditional techniques can still prove to be of considerable value.

India has discovered an unfortunate consequence of the Green Revolution: high yielding varieties are suffering from micro nutrient deficiencies Recent research indicates that most crops cultivated with Green Revolution material and techniques show...