Showers to boost wheat crop

Intermittent rainfall in northern states since Sunday is likely to benefit the standing wheat crop, despite isolated cases of damage in some places due to hails and high-velocity winds. The moisture added to the soil and the drop in minimum temperature due to the wet spell is deemed favourable for the crop.

The rains, caused by a western disturbance, are likely to continue for another day. The entire hilly region and the adjoining north-western plains, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan an Uttar Pradesh, are likely to experience rains and thunder showers till Tuesday, according to the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).

The prevailing rain-bearing system is expected to move further and bring rainfall in eastern and central part of the country. Western Himalayan region and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar may experience isolated heavy rainfall, hail storms and squalls tomorrow, the NCMRWF predicts.

"The rainfall is unlikely to have any impact on rabi oilseeds (rapeseed), and pulses, notably gram (chana), as these crops have already been harvested in most parts of the region", said Dr J S Samra, deputy director-general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

He further said the damage to wheat due to hail or squalls might take place in some places, but overall, the impact of the rain will be positive.

The showers would be highly favourable for wheat in the hilly tracts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, where the crop matures much later than in the adjoining plains. The crop in this tract is largely rainfed and it badly needs water at this stage for its growth. In the sub-mountainous areas of Punjab also, the wet spell will prove timely and beneficial for wheat.

In the plains of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which constitute the country's major grain bowl, wheat is likely to benefit from the prolongation of below-normal temperature spell. The sudden rise in temperature in March often hastens grain maturity without optimal weight gain, resulting in low yields. This has been the major cause of low wheat output in past few years.

"This year, temperature has remained generally below normal, which is a good condition for wheat crop", Samra said.

The agriculture ministry, which had earlier projected wheat output to be around 72.5 million tonne was now hopeful of bagging over 73.5 million tonne. This view is generally shared by agriculture experts and wheat scientists. The acreage under wheat is estimated to have gone up by about 1.8 million hectare this year.

Some additional production is expected to come from these areas as well. As a result, the food ministry feels that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies would be in a position to mop up adequate quantities of wheat at the minimum support price of Rs 750 a kg to meet the requirement of the public distribution system and official grain-based welfare schemes.

Wheat crop in Gujarat and Maharashtra is already being harvested. In Madhya Pradesh also, the crop is either being harvested or is ready for harvest. In Uttar Pradesh, the crop harvesting is round the corner and the fresh crop may begin arriving in the mandis from the middle of this month. Punjab and Haryana crop may hit the market from the beginning of April.