The Agriculture Secretary, Siraj Hussain, stated here on Tuesday that damage to the Rabi wheat crop caused by heavy unseasonal showers over several parts of the country last week was limited to a few areas and was unlikely to lead to any shortfalls. The country is also poised to surpass the record of 95.85 million tones (mt) produced in 2013-14.

“The damage caused by the recent rains was limited only to a few areas. Lodging was reported but is unlikely to hurt yields. My assessment is that wheat production will be more than last year,” Hussain said, while inaugurating the ‘Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela’, a three-day fair being held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

Lodging

Lodging refers to the collapse of the stems of cereal crops like wheat when the plant cannot support its own weight. Two types of lodging are common, root lodging and stem breakage, the latter occurring in the maturity stage when the stalk becomes brittle. The phenomenon occurs due to both structural traits in the plant as well as environmental conditions like adverse weather.

“This season’s wheat crop is expected to be higher than last year and low temperatures will improve yield. No more rain and low temperature are essential, and if the latter persists through March then yield will rise,” he added.

IARI estimates

As per IARI estimates, wheat output could touch 97-98 mt, possibly as much as 100 mt if favourable weather conditions continue till harvesting. The Ministry had earlier pegged the wheat production to slide marginally to 95.76 mt in 2014-15.

According to Government data, nearly 5 million hectares of standing crops had been damaged in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The Punjab Agriculture Minister, Sardar Tota Singh, had stated earlier this week that around Rs.3,000 crore of wheat was destroyed in the State owing to the unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms.

India is the world’s second-largest wheat producer and the higher production will add to a global glut even as the Agriculture Ministry expects overall foodgrains output to fall by 3 per cent in 2014-15 to 257.07 mt from a record 265.57 mt recorded the previous crop year (July-June), owing to erratic rainfall that adversely impacted rice and coarse cereals production.

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