'Rain won't hamper output'

Unseasonal rain in north India late last week was unlikely to affect wheat output in 2008, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday.

He said the untimely rains will not have any impact on wheat production, which is still seen topping the targeted 75 million tonnes.

"We will surpass the wheat output target of 75 million tonnes this year," Pawar said on the sidelines of the India-Africa Summit.

Moderate to heavy rains lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana last week. The rains were accompanied by strong winds, thunder squalls and even hail in some areas, which have caused lodging of the near-mature wheat crop.