The Hindu Business Line : Wheat crop unaffected by rains, hailstorm

Declining trend
Wheat production pegged at 74.8 mt against last year’s 75.8 mt
Area under wheat has declined this year to 277.48 lakh hectares against 282.14 lakh hectares
Global wheat prices on CBOT have declined to $9.70 a bushel from $13.495

M.R. Subramani

Chennai, April 7 Only the wheat crop in low-lying areas has been affected by the rains and hailstorm which hit the northern parts of the country last week.

“We have visited most of the areas where wheat is grown after the rains. We have not noticed any damage,” said Dr B. Mishra, Project Director, Directorate of Wheat Research in Karnal, Haryana.

The findings are in line with the statement of the Union Agriculture Secretary, Dr P.K. Mishra, who told reporters in New Delhi that the untimely rains had not affected the crop.

“There may have been some damage. But the overall estimate (of the crop) remains the same,” he was quoted as saying by news agencies.

The Centre, in its initial estimates, has pegged wheat production at 74.8 million tonnes (mt) against 75.8 mt last year. Production has been pegged lower since the area under wheat has declined this year to 277.48 lakh hectares against 282.14 lakh hectares last year. The fall is mainly in view of shifting in preference to other crops in Madhya Pradesh, while in Uttar Pradesh sowing was delayed as farmers were unable to harvest sugarcane on time.

“Despite the rains, the outlook for the crop looks very good,” Dr B. Mishra said, adding that harvest of the crop sown early was almost over.

“The ones sown early in central India have been harvested. Nearly 80-90 per cent of the crop has been harvested in Gujarat,” he said.

Crop in most of the areas in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana was sown late. The harvest in these States is set to begin.

Rains up prices

According to Dr B. Mishra, the rains have abated in the growing regions and it would take two to three days before harvest resumes.

“Farmers would look forward to a dry weather to begin harvest,” he said.

Sources said farmers were exaggerating the impact of the rains to claim more benefits.

Fears of the impact of the rains have pushed up wheat prices in various parts. In New Delhi, wheat (dara) prices have gained by nearly Rs 40 a quintal since rains hit the growing areas. On Monday, the variety was quoted at Rs 1,140-1,145 a quintal. Prices, which had touched Rs 1,150 during the third week of January, had come down on hopes of better crop before the current surge.

Dr B. Mishra said productivity this year would be good in view of weather being favourable throughout the season. “We could have a record yield this year,” he said.

On the other hand, the Centre has fixed a higher minimum support price of Rs 1,000 a quintal this year against Rs 850 last year. The Centre has also fixed a procurement target of 150 lakh tonnes for buffer stocks against last year’s 111 lakh tonnes.

Globally, wheat prices are ruling firm on stocks drawdown and production being hit by drought in Australia and adverse weather in Europe. In the US, there has been a shift from wheat to other crops such as corn. However, wheat prices on the Chicago Board of Trade have declined by over 50 per cent to $9.70 a bushel from $13.495 on February 27.

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