Untimely rains and hailstorms in large swathes of land across Madhya Pradesh (MP), Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana and Bihar in the last few days have caused damage to standing crops of wheat, chickpea and mustard in some parts, which might dash government hopes of reaping bumper foodgrain production in 2013-14.

According to senior government officials, the actual impact on wheat output would be known only when harvesting started, but the damage had been widespread as of now. In mustard seed and chickpea, officials said the damage to crops had been more severe than wheat as these were in the pod-filling stage.

"There have been reports of 'lodging' (a condition when stems either break or become extremely brittle) in the wheat crop of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, but the extent of damage will be known later," Indu Sharma, director of Karnal-based Directorate of Wheat Research or DWR, told Business Standard.

She said the impact of this on final production estimates was unclear as of now, but the output might drop by two to five per cent if rains and hailstorms did not abate in the next few days, or if there was a sudden increase in temperature from March 15 onwards or the winter season did not subside. "In many areas, the wheat crop is in the pollination stage and these widespread rains and hailstorms are not good for it," Sharma said.

Madhya Pradesh, along with Rajasthan is among the major wheat producing regions of India, besides Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The government has estimated a record 96 million tonnes of wheat production in 2013-14 (June-July), up from 93.5 million tonnes in 2012-13. The MP government estimated that rainfall and hailstorms had affected 49 of 61 districts in the state, damaging 60-70 per cent of the standing crop. Around 21 districts, including Kota, Churu, Jhalawar, Karauli and Sri Ganganagar, have been impacted in Rajasthan. In Maharashtra, standing crop in around 54,000 hectares has been damaged in the districts of Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.

Source - http://www.business-standard.com/