Record wheat output likely despite heat wave, says research body

Dismissing concerns of crop damage due to the prolonged heat wave, SS Singh, head of Karnal-based Directorate of Wheat Research has reiterated that the country’s wheat output in the current crop year ending June would cross 82 million tonnes.

“The heat wave has hit the crop only in some parts of Punjab, but the damage would be offset by higher output expected in other parts of the country...I am very confident that wheat output this year will be more than 82 million tonnes,” Singh said, reaffirming his earlier estimate.

The agriculture ministry has pegged India’s wheat output in 2009-10 at 80.28 million tonnes, slightly lower than last year’s record of 80.58 million tonnes.

Till early February, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was claiming that wheat output would touch 82 million tonnes, but had refrained from commenting on output projections last week amid growing concerns of crop damage due to abnormally high temperatures.

Temperatures have remained 4-6 degrees Celsius above normal over most parts of northern and central India since last month.

The Met department on Monday said temperatures in March were the highest in the last 128 years, and the trend is likely to continue through April.

Met department spokesman BP Yadav on Monday said the continuing heat wave in northern India may have negative impact on late sown wheat.

Singh said the heat wave had not hit output in any wheat growing state barring Punjab, as the crop was ready for harvest over most parts of central and eastern India before temperatures started shooting up.

He said this year, wheat acreage was higher at around 28 million hectares, and there were good pre-sowing rains in central India that have benefited the crop.

In eastern India too, intermittent rains during the crop season have ensured higher yields.

Singh said in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, where crop was sown late in some parts, night temperatures remained low, which saved the crop from damage.