As mercury dips wheat production likely to snowball

Fall in temperature will boost growth of shoots, which will consequently increase the yield of the crop: expert

Wheat is a temperature-sensitive crop and needs cold conditions to thrive.

A dip in the maximum and minimum temperatures in the country’s key wheat producing States of Punjab and Haryana will boost the wheat crop output in the ongoing winter (rabi) season, agriculture experts on Sunday told The Hindu .

With the maximum and minimum temperatures having dropped below normal across both the States during the past two-three days, it’s a good sign for the “temperature-sensitive” wheat crop, they said.

“The current weather condition is conducive to the wheat crop. The dip in mercury will boost the growth of shoots, which will consequently increase the yield of the crop. Wheat is a temperature-sensitive crop and needs cold conditions to thrive. The lower temperature accompanied with sunlight will help in photosynthesis and eventually it’s growth,” said P.S. Rangi, an agriculture expert and Punjab State Farmers Commission adviser.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the maximum and minimum temperatures have been hovering below normal in parts of Punjab and Haryana during the past 48 hours. Maximum temperatures were below normal (-1.6°C to -3.0°C) at isolated places over Haryana and Punjab. While the minimum temperatures were below normal (-3.1°C to -5.0°C) at a few places in Haryana while it was (-1.6°C to -3.0°C) at isolated places over Punjab, according the IMD.

Timely onset of winter

“Punjab and Haryana are experiencing below normal temperatures, which is a good sign for the wheat crop. Importantly, during the past two-three years, unusual warm weather in December had been a cause for concern for the crop, raising anxiety among farmers, but this year with the winter having set-in on time, the crop is likely to be benefited immensely,” said Surinder Pal, director at the India Meteorological Department, Chandigarh.

According to Union Agriculture Ministry data, wheat crop has been sown on nearly 34.69 lakh hectare in Punjab during the ongoing rabi season. In Haryana, its acreage is 24.04 lakh hectare till December 21. Both States are major contributors of wheat to the central pool.

Mr. Surinder Pal said as the dry weather is likely to prevail across the region for the next few days, the low temperature would help the soil to retain moisture, which otherwise in the absence of rain would adversely effect the quality of crop.

Wheat, the main winter crop, is sown between late October till December, while the harvesting of the crop will start from April onwards.