Warm weather might affect wheat, mustard output

The area covered under wheat and mustard is still less than last year because of low moisture in the soil, while the standing rabi crop’s prospects could be affected if the sudden rise in temperatures in the northern plains does persist.

Officials said production of wheat might fall unless there is a change in the weather pattern. Apart from less area sown, the crop’s condition isn’t so good in the main parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, two big producing states.

Wheat is the biggest among foodgrains grown during rabi. As of Thursday, it had been sown on 27.14 million hectares, around 2.17 mn ha less than last year. The largest shortfall was in MP and UP.

Officials said more than the fall in sowing, it was the sudden rise in temperature in the northern plains, where the crop is mainly grown, which is of concern. Dry weather reduces yield. Mustard, another main rabi crop, had been planted on 6.08 mn ha till Thursday, around 0.35 mm ha less than last year. In all, rabi crops have been sown on 54.11 mn ha, almost 2.65 mn ha less than last year. A surge in sowing area is likely only if winter returns with full intensity.

Water levels in major reservoirs as on Thursday was less than the corresponding period last year and the 10-year average. However, in the northern region, the levels were marginally better than in the corresponding period of 2015.

MP increases agri production by 15 per cent in 2015

Madhya Pradesh, which produces 40 per cent of the organic produce of the country, increased its agriculture production by 15 per cent in 2015 as against 2014, Agriculture Minister Gaurshanker Bisen said on Friday.

Agriculture production was 45 million tonnes  in 2015 in comparison with 36 million tonnes in 2014, he said, releasing the agriculture produce figure, for the previous year. (PTI)