Wheat production in MP likely to dip 13% to 160 lakh tonnes

If the maximum temperature remains above normal production of wheat may be hit

Madhya Pradesh's wheat produce for the current rabi season is expected to dip by 13% to about 160 lakh tonnes.

"Wheat has been sown under 50 lakh hectares in the ongoing Rabi season so far, which is about 15% less than what was sown during the period last year. With maximum temperature remaining above normal, wheat production may be hit," Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development Department Director Mohanlal Meena told PTI.

"We are not expecting wheat production to be over 160 lakh tonnes in the ongoing rabi season. In the coming days, if temperature doesn't fall and winter rainfall is not received in the wheat growing pockets of the state, this anticipated production may also dip," he added.

According to agriculture scientist Akhileshnandan Mishra, cold weather is required for better yield of wheat. But the maximum temperature has been remaining above normal this season, which is not a good sign for the crop.

He said seeing the weather pattern this year, many farmers have opted to sow gram (chana) crop, which has also resulted in a drop in acreage under wheat crop.

Mishra, former head, Indore based Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) Regional Station, said the last month (December) remained warm in the state, which has hampered the sowing.

Last year too, Rabi wheat production was hit due to unfavourable weather conditions. Last time around, wheat was sown under 59 lakh hectares and the staple production was around 184 lakh tonnes.