Importance of Balanced Use of Zinc for Higher Crop Production Explained in Training Program Organized by MPUAT

The Farmers Interaction Meet Cum Training Programme on the balanced use of Zinc for higher crop production and income was organized on 8^th March 2022 at the Directorate of Research, MPUAT. The program started by lighting the lamp in front of Goddess Saraswati followed by the MPUAT Kulgeet.

Dr. S. K. Sharma, Director Research, MPUAT, Dr. Soumitra Das, Director, South Asia-ZNI, International Zinc Association, New Delhi, Dr. Rehka Vyas, Zonal Director Research, Agricultural Research Station, Udaipur and Dr. Arvind Verma, Associate Director Research, MPUAT attended the inaugural session and 30 farmers of Madar village, Udaipur participated in it. 

Dr. S. K. Sharma, Director Research, MPUAT said that zinc plays an important role in plant physiology as well as in human nutrition, and zinc deficiency has been recorded in 36.5 percent of soils at the national level and 50 percent in the Rajasthan state. He emphasized the application of zinc to overcome its deficiency in crops for better returns. He urged the farmers to get a soil health card and according to soil zinc availability, the zinc should be applied for higher productivity.  

Dr. Saumitra Das, Director, South Asia, International Zinc Association, New Delhi, explained the importance of zinc in plant nutrition and also informed that about 37 percent of the soils of the nation are affected by the deficiency of multiple micronutrients. He correlated the zinc deficiency in humans to the zinc deficiency from soil. He also discussed that 2 billion populations around the world is affected by zinc deficiency and due to this common diseases like diarrhea pneumonia are seen in children in African and Asian countries. He said that zinc has a significant contribution in increasing crop productivity. 

He also visited the farmer’s field of Front-Line Demonstrations (FLDs) at University adopted village at Madar, Udaipur.

Dr. Rehka Vyas, Zonal Director Research, Agricultural Research Station, Udaipur emphasized on the use of micronutrients i.e. Zn at the right time, right place, right quantity,a. and in the right way.

Dr. Arvind Verma, Associate Director Research, MPUAT explained the importance of zinc in the food chain and also said that Krishi Vigyan Kendra can play an important role for zinc demonstration and dissemination of the zinc based technologies.

Dr. Devendra Jain, Assistant Professor welcomed the participants and briefed about purpose of meeting.

The program was conducted by Dr. RH Meena, Associate professor and Co-PI and Dr. Gajanand Jat, Assistant professor and PI proposed the vote of thanks.