45% acreage surge to boost wheat crop

70.75 lakh hectare covered till November 17.

The country's wheat acreage in the ongoing rabi season has seen nearly 45 per cent jump over the last year, indicating the possibility of a bumper crop next year.

According to the latest official sowing data, an area of 70.75 lakh hectare was covered under wheat cultivation as on November 17, significantly higher than the 48.84 lakh hectare covered in the same period last year. The crop condition is reported to be normal.

In 2005-06 season, the total wheat acreage stood at about 266 lakh hectare and the production was 695 lakh tonne.

The fact that spot wheat prices increased to as high levels as Rs 1,200-1,300 a quintal, along with a Rs 100 hike in the MSP (minimum support price) to Rs 750 a quintal, is being seen as the driving factor behind the rising acreage.

The area under wheat is witnessing an uptrend in all the states, particularly Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

In UP, the acreage has surged over 500 per cent to 10.96 lakh hectare from 1.77 lakh hectare last year. In Punjab, it has posted nearly 20 per cent rise to 16.65 lakh hectare against 13.91 last year.

In MP, the acreage has expanded from 12.62 lakh hectare to 15.1 lakh hectare. In Rajasthan, it has grown to 4.75 lakh hectare from 0.85 lakh hectare last year. In Gujarat, the acreage has grown to 2.47 lakh hectare against 0.47 lakh hectare last year.

There is a clear indication that in the states like MP and UP, the area, which was under crops such as rapeseed-mustard last year, is being taken up by wheat now.

In MP, the acreage under rapeseed-mustard has seen a fall of about 25 per cent to 5.9 lakh hectare, while in UP, the same has declined about 15 per cent to 6.83 lakh hectare.

The country has faced a shortage of wheat after the government agencies procured only 92 lakh tonne this year compared with 148 lakh tonne last year.

The government had to contract wheat imports of 55 lakh tonne to meet the domestic demand.