India to hold International Symposium cum Workshop on Sulphur

New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) Over 125 agri-experts and scientists will deliberate at an International Symposium cum Workshop on Sulphur here from tomorrow to highlight the importance and increasing need of sulphur in improving the productivity of crops and the profitability of farmers.

The two-day event is being jointly organised by the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) in association with the Sulphur Institute (TSI), Washington and the International Fertiliser Industry Association (IFA), Paris.

The stagnation in agricultural productivity for the past few years has become a matter of concern and it is posing a serious threat to India's food security. The depletion in soil fertility due to imbalanced and unscientific use of fertilisers is one of the major constrainints in improving crop production.

The country has entered an era of multinutrient deficiency. In particular, sulphur deficiency has become quite widespread in the country. Sulphur rightly deserves to be called the fourth major plant nutrient in Indian agriculture and needs the same attetnion as is given to N, P and K as a fertiliser. The concept of balanced fertilisation cannot be confined to N, P and K only.

Balanced fertilisation including all other plant nutrients is esential for sustaining high agricutlural productivity and the health of the soil.

The special feature of the programme is a Panel Discussion on Future Strategies to Promote Use of Sulphur Fertilisers to be chaired by Mr Satish Chander, Joint Secretary (INM) Department of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the panelists include Mr B S Sidhu, Director Agriculture, Punjab, Mr V K Punshi, Managing Director, DMCC and Dr P D Sharma, Assistant Director General (Soils) ICAR.

Dr J S Sarma, Secertary (Fertiliser) Department of Fertilisers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers will be the Chief Guest and will deliver the inaugural address.

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