Recent rains good for wheat crop: Govt

Recent rains have benefited late sown wheat crop although there are reports of some damage due to hailstorm in north India, government said on Wednesday.

Wheat output is estimated to rise to 93.82 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June), as against 86.53 million tonnes in the previous year, despite drought. Wheat crop is already matured and would be harvested from next fortnight.

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"Recent rains have benefited late sown wheat crops. There are reports of some damage due to hailstorm and wind, but in small pockets. The situation is not alarming," Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan told reporters.

The government is collecting the details about the crop situation from the state governments, he added.

Last year, unseasonal rains and hailstorm during March-April period had damaged the wheat crop significantly, resulting in sharp fall in production by 9.32 million tonnes.

Moreover, the quality of wheat had also damaged forcing the government to relax norms for procurement of the grain from farmers to the central pool.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that the government is organising a three-day national level exhibition-cum-fair called 'Krishi Unnati Mela' from March 19 to 21.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the mela and also give away 'Krishi Karman Awards' to eight states -- Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Meghalaya, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Two progressive farmers would also given the award in recognition of excellent performance in production.

More than one lakh farmers are expected to participate in the mela. Both public and private companies will display their products and new technologies in over 500 stalls.