In an exclusive conversation with Agrospectrum, Dr Rahul Mirchandani, Chairman & Managing Director, Aries Agro Limited, outlined why micronutrients are the “missing link” in India’s groundwater sustainability and nutritional security framework. Drawing on case studies from Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, he explained how location-specific nutrient–water management models are delivering tangible gains in yield, water-use efficiency, and soil health. Dr Mirchandani also evaluated the early impact of the PM-PRANAM scheme, calling for performance-linked incentives to accelerate micronutrient adoption. He detailed emerging scientific evidence on how zinc, boron, iron, and manganese enhance photosynthetic efficiency and drought resilience in water-intensive crops like rice, wheat, cotton, and banana. Concluding with a five-point reform agenda, he urged policymakers to integrate pricing, R&D, extension, digitisation, and regulation to make micronutrients central to India’s agri-future.

States like Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu face the dual crises of falling groundwater levels and micronutrient-deficient soils. Are there proven models that other states could replicate?

Absolutely — and the encouraging part is that these are not just theoretical pilots; they are field-tested interventions delivering measurable yield and water savings. In Punjab and Haryana, both Punjab Agricultural University and Haryana Agricultural University have pioneered zinc- and boron-enriched fertigation protocols for paddy and wheat using micro-irrigation. The integration of zinc sulphate in fertigation lines has helped farmers address the fact that over 60 per cent of soil samples in Punjab are zinc-deficient, as revealed by soil health card data. Farmers adopting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) — a method that reduces water usage by up to 30 per cent compared to puddled transplanting — are now pairing it with balanced micronutrient application, which not only cuts irrigation needs but also improves nutrient uptake efficiency.

In Karnataka, the Bhoochetana project, a public–private partnership between the state government and ICRISAT, created a geo-referenced soil fertility atlas of the entire state, identifying micronutrient deficiencies district by district. Based on this, area-specific blends were rolled out — for instance, boron for the nutrient-poor red soils in the north and zinc for the heavy black soils of central Karnataka. These blends, delivered alongside improved water management practices, boosted yields in pulses and oilseeds by 20–66 per cent, translating into significant farm-level income gains.

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