Extended winter may delay wheat arrivals in Haryana

Wheat arrivals in northern markets, including Haryana, may be delayed by a week this year. The Haryana agriculture officials maintained that procurement is likely to get delayed by seven days.

The normal wheat procurement operations in terminal market commences from April 1 and continues till May-end.

According to agriculture experts, good rainfall this year and gradual rise in temperature delayed crop maturity, thereby affecting the arrival in markets.

Less rainfall and high temperatures usually favour early ripening of wheat crop, but this year temperatures have not risen as was required.

Wheat Research Institute (Karnal) Director S S Singh said the prolonged weather spell and good weather conditions might have affected the procurement.

However, the delay in arrival is unlikely to affect the productivity of the crop.

Central government has targeted an estimated 82 million tonnes wheat production this year, but Singh said the production could exceed the estimate as the area under wheat this year increased this year compared to last year.

However, Haryana state food and civil supplies department officials said provisions have been made to procure wheat from terminal markets from April 1, which would continue till May 31.