Micronutrient Deficiencies vis-a-vis Food and Nutritional Security of India

摘要

Role of micronutrients in food production is well recognized and documented but its importance in nutritional security and human health is increasing in current era. Most of the nutrients that are required for human health come from the soil through either plants or animal products consumed by humans. Micronutrient deficiencies are rampant in the country and on average 43.0, 12.1, 5.4, 5.6 and 18.3% soils are deficient in Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn and B, respectively. The deficiency of two elements, particularly Zn+B in acid soils and Zn+Fe in semi-arid soils is coming up in many cropping systems as an alarm for future. Soil micronutrients maps developed, covering large areas to improve our understanding regarding micronutrients problems would be helpful in taking policy decisions regarding distribution of micronutrient carrying fertiliser materials to the location deficient in respective micronutrients. Besides this, the delineation results will be of immense use in developing location specific recommendations to enhance micronutrients content in food crops. Micronutrients availability in soil is reflected in their concentration in soil seed/ fodder and which in turn decides its bioavailability and bioassimilation in human and livestock. The seeds grown on micronutrients deficient soils contain micronutrients 2 to 3 times lower than those grown on micronutrients adequate soils. A bioassimilation study suggested that consumption of micronutrients dense food is expected to have a huge impact in combating micronutrients malnutrition. Strategies developed to unlock the native Zn and Fe from the soil and external application through foliar feeding could enhance sizeable amount of bioavailability micronutrients in plant food. This article highlights current scenario of micronutrients status in Indian soils, its contribution to total food grain production and its relation to food and nutritional security of the country.