INDIA’S FOOD OUTPUT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29324, 1 October 1960, Page 10

INDIA’S FOOD OUTPUT

Production Could 'Be Doubled (From a Reuter Correspondent) BERKELEY- (California). India could double or eVen triple its food production in many areas by applying enormous amounts of chemical fertilisers to the soil, a University of California soil scientist said here. Dr. Hans Jenny estimated that 10 to 25 million tons of plant nutrients would be needed annually to accomplish this goal. He said India could construct 100 plants at 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 dollars (£3,000,000 to £5,000,000) each over a period of years to produce its own nitrogen and phosphate. Dr. Jenny based his conclusions on an extensive study of the fertility of Indian soils which he undertook at the request of the American foreign aid programme and the Indian Government. Nitrogen, a key element in plant nutrition and crop production, is very low in the great majority of soils in India, he said. Climate is chiefly responsible fer this unfortunate situation rather than age-long cultivation and soil exhaustion. High temperatures, accompanied by high humidity, accelerate the oxidation and loss of soil humus, the storehouse of soil nitrogen. These adverse effects: could be overcome largely by massive applications of nitrogen fertilisers, supplemented by phosphates and other chemicals. He also emphasised that this programme must be accompanied by improved plant breeding, pest control, transportation, irrigation, and education, if India’s population was to enjoy ah adequate nutrition.