The current spell of untimely rain along with strong winds are “very harmful” for wheat crop as it could affect the yield adversely, besides delaying harvesting in Punjab and Haryana for a few days, say experts.
“Rain along with high velocity winds are very harmful for wheat crop at this stage because showers will impact the crop yield,” Indian Institute of Wheat & Barley Research director Indu Sharma told PTI on Monday.
Rain has lashed several parts of Punjab and Haryana during last 24 hours, including Ambala (2.1mm), Hisar (6.8 mm), Karnal (5.8 mm), Bhiwani (16 mm), Amritsar (3.6 mm), Ludhiana (7.1 mm), Patiala (6 mm), Gurdaspur (8.1 mm), Mansa (5.3 mm), among other places.
She further said that grain formation in wheat crop has already taken place and rain could cause discolouration which will ultimately affect quality of grains.
“Wherever the crop is already ripened, there may be chances of shattering which means grains will start falling on the ground,” she added.
Talking on the quantum of delay, she said: “We expect wheat harvesting to start after April 20 as against our initial expectations of commencing from April 15 in Punjab and Haryana.”
With several spells of rains and hailstorm in March, Ms. Sharma said the overall yield loss in the country’s wheat crop could be about 7 per cent.
Wheat procurement target
Meanwhile, Haryana has scaled down its wheat procurement target for central pool by 13 per cent to 65 lakh tonnes for the upcoming Rabi marketing season.
“Keeping in view, the untimely heavy rain and hailstorms which caused heavy loss to the standing wheat crop in the state, the procurement target has been reduced from 75 lakh metric tonnes to 65 LMT during ensuing Rabi Marketing Season 2015—16,” an official spokesman of Haryana Food and Supplies department said here.
- PTI
