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The US department of Agriculture (USDA) has pegged India's wheat production at 87 million tonnes (mt) this year, lower by seven per cent from the government's latest estimate of 93.6 mt.
The USDA has revised the estimate due to lower crop yields. The crop was sown in the 2012-13 crop year (July-June) and is being marketed in 2013-14, starting April.
On the government's wheat procurement, the USDA said it is significantly lower and is estimated to reach 26 mt this year compared to 38.2 mt last year, easing the foodgrain storage crisis.
Wheat exports are also expected to slow at five mt it added. Experts attribute the lower yield to abnormal winter rains, higher minimum day temperature and higher humidity in February-March.
