Cold wave brings good news for wheat crop

The prevailing low temperature in north-western parts of the country, while auguring well for wheat and apple crops, has adversely impacted mustard and potato crops. However, there has been no impact on pulses and onion crops.

"The low temperature will certainly have a positive impact on wheat, where we hope to produce more than 75 million tonnes. However, some damage to mustard, potato and some vegetables is certain," NB Singh, the agriculture production commissioner in the Union agriculture ministry, told Business Standard.

Singh said about 100,000 hectares under mustard in Rajasthan (in Sriganganagar, Bikaner and Jaipur) had been adversely impacted. This comes on the top of a lower acreage "" the area under mustard has declined from 6.63 million hectares to 5.89 million hectares.

Pulses will not be hit due to the current climatic conditions but lower acreage, which is 13.07 million hectares in the current season, down about 700,000 hectares from last year.

The wheat output this rabi season will decide if the country needs imports for the third consecutive year.

"This condition is favourable for the north-western plains, which includes Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, northern Rajasthan and foothills of Uttarakhand. This area accounts for 56 per cent of the country's wheat output. Temperature is also satisfactory in Bihar, West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, which produce 28 per cent of wheat. Production of about 75 million tonnes seem highly possible," said B Mishra, project director, directorate of wheat research, Karnal.

Potato is a rabi crop with over 90 per cent of the output coming from this season. "Based on preliminary reports from our various centres, we estimate potato production to be down by 10-15 per cent. Yield will mainly be impacted in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh," said RP Gupta, director, National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF).

"The apple plants are in a dormant period and this is the time when chilling is required, preferably below 7 degree celsius. The current climatic condition is ideally suited for chilling and this will improve the crop prospects," said Sanjay Chauhan, former secretary, Himachal Pradesh Fruit Growers' Association.