The Hindu Business Line : Wheat production seen rebounding

Trade pundits who gathered at the Grain Asia 2004 here during the weekend estimated production to be higher this year on better coverage of the area under the crop and favourable weather.

"We estimate the wheat crop to be between 75 mt and 78 mt," said Mr Atul Chaturvedi, Vice-President, Adani Exports, in a presentation at the conference.

Though the growing areas experienced fog during the last week of December and the first week of this month, the crop was in good condition, experts at the conference said.

An Agriculture Ministry statement in New Delhi said wheat sowing in the country was nearing an end but the area covered was higher at 256 lakh hectares (lh) compared to 220 lh during the same period last year.

Punjab Government officials said the State could produce 20 mt this year. Madhya Pradesh expects wheat production to touch 9 mt against 6.6 mt last year.

"Coverage in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where drought conditions affected sowing last year, has been good this year," the statement said.

"We expect the crop in Punjab and Haryana to be free of pests and insect attacks," a trading official said.

That, according to traders, will see the country building up foodgrain stocks and having enough to export. As on December 31, the country's wheat stocks were estimated at about 15 mt. During the same time last year, the stocks were more than double.

"Prospects for production and exports look good," said Mr D.P. Singh, President, All-India Grain Exporters Association.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry statement also showed that sowing of rabi rice was a tad lower at 11.77 lh (12.23 lh). Area under jowar has also been reported lower by three per cent than the normal 53 lh.

On the other hand, maize sowing has seen a rise to 6.8 lh against the normal 5 lh, while barley sowing has not shown any change from the normal 7.2 lh.

Though sowing of rabi coarse cereals is higher than normal at 69 lh, it is still below last year's coverage of 71 lh.

The area under pulses has been reported higher at 133 lh (109 lh) with sowing of gram increasing by 18 lh.

Area under rabi oilseeds is also up by 11 lh at 88 lh. Area under mustard and rapeseed has increased to 58 lh (50lh).