Cold weather to help standing wheat and mustard crop: Govt

The current cold wave in northern and central India will help the standing wheat and mustard crops, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today.
Sowing of rabi (winter) crops like wheat began from October and is almost coming to an end. Rabi crops have been under pressure due to dry winter following two consecutive drought years, raising concerns over production levels.
"The drop in temperature in the last few days has given a breather to farmers. The cold weather will help standing wheat and mustard crops," Singh told PTI.
Asked about the wheat crop prospects, Karnal-based Directorate of Wheat Research head Indu Sharma said: "At this point of time, cool temperature is very beneficial for the crop, both early and late sown varieties."

However, the wheat crop prospects would depend on the temperature next two months. "If the temperature does not rise above normal after February, there will not be any set back on production," she said.
Wheat sowing has been completed in most states, though some bit been sown in the sugarcane belt, she added.

On mustard crop, the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) President Pravin Lunkad said: "In last few days, the cold weather condition has picked up, which is good for standing wheat and mustard crop."
"This year, flowering in mustard is higher by 10-15 per cent than the previous year. However, much would depend on climatic conditions during February-end and March," he said in a statement.

As per the latest data, area sown to wheat -- the main rabi crop -- remained down by 4.46 per cent at 291.97 lakh hectare as on January 22 of the rabi season as compared with 305.60 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.