Favourable weather may herald bountiful rabi wheat harvest in Punjab and Haryana
Favourable winter weather in Punjab and Haryana is expected to boost wheat yields this rabi season, with per-hectare averages projected to surpass last year’s output. Experts note ideal cold conditions and timely rain have aided grain development. However, untimely rain and hailstorms in parts of both states have raised concerns over crop damage, particularly in areas like Mansa district.
Favourable weather conditions over the rabi (winter) crop in the country’s key wheat-producing States of Punjab and Haryana are likely to boost the yield of wheat this harvest season, experts said. However, untimely rain accompanied by hailstorms in a few parts of Punjab and Haryana in the past two days triggered concern among farmers that the standing wheat crop’s quality could be damaged, causing losses.
The harvesting of wheat, with the main rabi crop sown between late October and December, has already commenced in Punjab and Haryana. According to government data, wheat production in Punjab in 2023-24 was over 181 lakh tonnes, while Haryana saw nearly 124 lakh tonnes of wheat output in the same period. Agricultural experts expect the harvest in both States to exceed that of the previous year.
Ratan Tiwari, Director, Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, Haryana, said the two States were heading for a good harvest this season on account of the preceding favourable weather days. “Weather conditions were conducive all through the winter. Temperatures, particularly the minimum [temperature], remained favourable. Secondly, the days were relatively bright, and there were fewer foggy days when compared with the previous years. Although the maximum temperature has been fluctuating, climate resilient varieties have sustained well,” Mr. Tiwari told The Hindu.
“Last year, the average yield in Punjab was 50 quintals per hectare. This year, it could be over 60 quintals per hectare. Similarly, last year, the average yield in Haryana was around 46 quintals per hectare, which this year could go up to 50 quintals per hectare,“ he added.
P.S. Rangi, agricultural expert and former advisor to the Punjab State Farmers Commission, explained that wheat is a temperature-sensitive crop which thrives in cold conditions. “This time, cold conditions have prevailed during the entire crop season, which is a good sign for bumper wheat production. Intermittent, timely rains have resulted in good development of grain, which will boost the per-hectare yields of wheat,” Mr. Rangi said.
Punjab and Haryana are major contributors of wheat to the Central procurement pool. Many parts of Punjab and Haryana have experienced light to moderate rain accompanied by winds in the past 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department said. “There was fairly widespread rain, accompanied by hail and winds during the past 48 hours in parts of Punjab and Haryana. However, clear weather conditions are expected now in the coming days,” Surinder Paul, Director, IMD, Chandigarh, said.
Expressing concern over the recent spell of rain, Jagmohan Singh, general secretary for Punjab, Bharatiya Kisan Union, said the standing wheat crop had suffered damage in certain pockets of Mansa district, where the crop had been flattened.
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Source : The Hindu
