Sustainable Nutri-Farms: Addressing Zinc Deficiency and Climate Challenges

About the Project
Zinc is critical for physical growth, brain development, and immunity from birth through adulthood. But our bodies cannot make zinc, so it must come from food. In India, nearly 2.1 million children under five die annually from diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, malaria, measles, and pneumonia, all worsened by low zinc intake. Undernourishment starts in the soil. As per a study by Indian Council of Agricultural Scientists (ICAR), roughly 40% of India’s soil samples tested are zinc deficient. Climate change makes this worse: rising CO₂ is projected to reduce iron and zinc in staple crops by 3–17%. 

In a country where nearly one-fifth (19%) of pre-school children and one-third (32%) of adolescents are already zinc deficient, there is an urgent need to address zinc deficiency in India and the factors contributing to its prevalence. 

To break this cycle, HarvestPlus Solutions and Yara International launched the Sustainable Nutri-Farms pilot in Uttar Pradesh (Oct’23–Jun’24). The initiative introduced biofortified wheat varieties across six districts, combined with Yara’s advanced micronutrient products—Zintrac, Teprosyn, and Procote—to enhance soil and crop nutrition. The pilot aimed to improve both crop productivity and nutritional quality while strengthening farmer livelihoods.

Key Achievements

• Agronomic Success: Wheat yields improved by up to 29.3%, with enhanced grain quality and higher nutrient density. Biofortified wheat varieties (BHU 31) showed an increase of 40% in zinc content compared to non-biofortified varieties (20.9 ppm zinc, 32.6 ppm iron). Farmers harvested bold, shiny grains that fetched better market prices.
• Economic Impact: Farmers experienced an average 42% increase in income, driven by higher yields. This highlights the potential of biofortification as both a nutrition and livelihood intervention.
• Nutritional Awareness and Adoption: Training and community engagement raised significant awareness about the benefits of biofortified wheat. Post-project surveys showed an 87% adoption rate of biofortified varieties and improved fertilizer practices, reflecting growing farmer and consumer acceptance.
• Community and Sustainability: Beyond improved yields and incomes, farmers reported stronger awareness of sustainable agriculture, resilience against climate stress, and commitment to continuing biofortification practices.

Looking Ahead
The Sustainable Nutri-Farms pilot demonstrates how nutrition-smart agriculture can integrate climate resilience, farmer prosperity, and public health. Building on the success in Uttar Pradesh, the project offers a replicable model to scale biofortification, ensuring that agriculture not only feeds but nourishes communities.