agro-scientists in India are a troubled lot these days because there are indications that the soil in some of the most-productive regions of the country is losing its micronutrient content. “However, in India, little attention is paid to the possible health impact of depleting micronutrients in the soil,” laments V K Nayyar, professor, department of soil, Punjab Agricultural University ( pau ), Ludhiana.

Booming population, over-extraction and intensive cropping are the main culprits behind the depletion of micro