Cold Weather in North India Will Increase Rabi Crop Yields: Agri Commissioner

Agriculture Commissioner SK Malhotra told ET that severe cold weather in northern part of the country will increase yields of rabi grains, pulses and oilseeds, boosting India's food production to a new high, while conditions are not very good for vegetables.

Major grain-producing areas of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab have received heavy rainfall last week, followed by a sharp fall in day temperatures across the region. And this has created perfect conditions for the crops.

Malhotra said, "This is an ideal condition for tillering of plants. Production in rabi is expected to wipe out kharif deficit, if any. We are likely to touch last year’s overall production level combining rabi & kharif together”.

India, in the previous season had produced a record 116.42 million tonnes of rice & 102.19 million tonnes of wheat. Oilseeds output stood at 32.25 million tonnes and the pulses production was 23.40 million tonnes.

However, Agriculture Commissioner added that the low temperature is not good for vegetables crops.

He warned that “Vegetables are usually prone to frost bite & cold temperature. So, if this weather continues, brace for costly vegetables this time”. The sowing is over in more than 90 percent area in this rabi season while there is late planting in few areas because of delayed kharif harvest.

Malhotra said, “Due to late rainfall in some parts of India, especially in Karnataka and Maharashtra, the sowing has been delayed a bit. But production in these areas, especially of oilseeds and pulses will be bumper because of right moisture content in the soil”. The government’s 1st advance estimates of kharif this year showed a slight drop in the harvest.