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M.R. Subramani

"This would require to be watched for its further prolongation, as it may not favour rabi crop conditions."

Chennai , Dec. 12

AN above normal weather in major growing areas, especially North India, is causing concern over wheat, gram and potato crops sown during rabi.

"Currently, the temperature is slightly above normal, which is not conducive for wheat and other rabi crops," said Mr Sunil Mukhati, a farmer in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh, over phone.

When contacted, the Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Department officials said the phenomenon, though unusual, could harm the crop if it continues.

Dr G. Kaushal, Director, Agriculture, M.P., told Business Line that as of now, there was no danger to the crops. "We hope the temperature will come down in the next 4-5 days," he said.

The day temperature was over 30 degrees Celsius and even during night, it was a little warm, Mr Mukhati said. "Normally, the temperature should be 25 degrees Celsius during day time and less than 10 degrees Celsius during night," he said.

Wheat and gram have been sown and germination has just taken place. "If the temperature doesn't go down, then it could affect the yield," an agriculture expert said.

A Union Agriculture Ministry statement said: "The precipitation in the north and north-western plains was also weak last month. This phenomenon (above normal temperature) would require to be watched for its further prolongation, as it may not favour rabi crop conditions."

"There could be cause for concern for those who had gone in for early wheat sowing," experts said.

Meanwhile, the statement said reports of accelerated rabi oilseeds and pulses continued to come in.

Already, the area under gram had exceeded the normal area of 58 lakh hectares (lh). So far, 61 lh had been covered, up 15 lh over last year.

Normally, gram makes up 58 per cent of the total area under pulses.

So far, 98 lh have been covered under rabi pulses, up 16 lh over last year, against the normal 107 lh.

Wheat coverage has increased to 125 lh against 101 lh last year.

The Ministry expects sowing to accelerate once the temperature begins to dip below 25 degrees Celsius.

In rice, 42 lh have been covered.As regard oilseeds, 78 lh have been covered so far, which is higher by 20 lh during the same time last year. This is just one lh short of the normal area under rabi oilseeds. The area under mustard and rapeseed has increased to 46 lh (45lh).

The only jarring note as far as rabi sowing is concerned is the decrease in the area under coarse cereals. It has dipped by one lh to 60 lh.

Experts say the sowing report looks encouraging and the total foodgrain and oilseed production could rise significantly this year after last year's fall due to drought.

Good coverage of the south-west monsoon has helped both kharif and rabi crops.

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