Govt hopes to see record rabi wheat production

The government today said wheat production will touch a record 82 million tonnes in the current rabi season despite "some damage" to the crop in unprecedented rains this year. 

"We are targeting 82 million tonnes of wheat production for the current season. I admit there is some damage due to rains, but productivity has also increased at the same time. Hence, there will be no impact on overall production," Agriculture Secretary P K Basu said.

India, the second-largest producer of wheat in the world after China, had produced a record 80.71 million tonnes of wheat in the 2009-10 crop year.

Wheat is a rabi crop, for which sowing starts in November and harvesting commences in March. It accounts for nearly 71 per cent of the total foodgrains production in the country. 

While there has been some damage to wheat crops in certain parts of the country in the current year, the good monsoon has also ignited hopes of a better crop in the rain-fed areas of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Wheat cultivation may also get a boost from intense winter conditions and intermittent rains.

According to official estimates, the acreage under wheat cultivation was down marginally in the current year till December 10, at 207.11 lakh hectares, as against 212.9 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year.

The acreage sown with wheat in Punjab and Haryana, the two major growing states, is likely to be around 35 lakh hectares and 24.65 lakh hectares, respectively, this year.

In the previous year, wheat was cultivated over 35.22 lakh hectares in Punjab and 24.92 lakh hectares in Haryana.

Punjab has projected production of 154 lakh tonnes of wheat in the ongoing crop year, as against 151.69 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

Similarly, Haryana has pegged wheat production 10 per cent higher this year at 114.62 lakh tonnes, compared to 105 lakh tonnes in the previous crop year.