Despite the fact that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared February 2023 to be the warmest month since 1901, with average maximum temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius, scientists at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) in Haryana's Karnal predict that it will have little impact on wheat production, which is expected to reach an all-time high of 112 million tonnes.
Last year, total wheat production was 106.84 million tonnes, a 2.75 million tonnes decrease from the 109.59 million tonnes estimated for the 2020-21 season. "Rising temperatures in February had no effect on the crop, and we are confident that wheat output will exceed 112 million tonnes this Rabi harvesting season," said Gyanendra Singh, director-IIWBR.
He stated that the crop is healthy and that the current weather is very favourable for the crop, and that a bumper wheat crop season is expected, particularly in the country's northern wheat growing belts.
According to scientists, the increase in seed proportion of the new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties developed by the IIWBR is the primary reason for higher yield and produce. "These varieties have covered more than half of the total acreage under wheat cultivation in the country," according to the scientists. The increase in wheat acreage in the country, from 30 million hectares last year to around 31.5 million hectares this year, is also a factor in predicting a record output.
On Thursday, the IIWBR issued another advisory to the country's wheat farmers, citing the IMD weather forecast, which indicated that the maximum temperature in the coming week is expected to range from 24.6 degrees Celsius to 34.8 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature from 13.1 degrees Celsius to 19 degrees Celsius at most locations in north India, which is favourable for wheat and barley crop.
According to the advisory, between March 17 and 21, light to heavy rain, high-velocity wind, and thunderstorms are expected over the northwest plains and adjoining parts of North Madhya Pradesh, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Rajasthan, and farmers should avoid irrigating their fields.
Farmers are advised not to spray any chemicals, even if there is a chepa (Aphid) or rust infestation, because rains will wash away Aphids, according to the advisory. The month of February is critical for the wheat crop, and with an IMD report declaring February 2023 as the warmest in the previous 122 years and the country receiving only 7.2mm of rain, farmers were concerned.
This month's rainfall was 68% less than the average of 22.7 mm. Last year, scientists at the IIWBR predicted that wheat output would reach 112 million tonnes, but inclement weather and an early heatwave in March affected both early and late varieties, causing grain shrivelling. Overall wheat production was 106.84 million tonnes, a 2.75 million tonnes decrease from the 109.59 million tonnes estimated for the 2020-21 season.
