Untimely March rains notwithstanding, Punjab expecting bumper wheat crop
By Anju Agnihotri Chaba
Recent rains and thunderstorm in various parts of Punjab notwithstanding, the state remains optimistic about a bumper wheat harvest this year. The unexpected weather fluctuations caused by untimely rains in March month led to the flattening of crops in several areas of the state. However, a subsequent dry spell allowed for the recovery of the crop, alleviating some of the initial concerns among farmers.
Punjab, known as the breadbasket of India, has brought 35.08 lakh hectares under wheat cultivation this year, marginally lower than the 35.18 lakh hectares cultivated last year. Despite this marginal decrease in acreage, farmers expressed confidence in the upcoming harvest season.
Paramjit Singh, a farmer from Nakodar says he is expecting a bumper crop because this season, the rains were quite timely. “Though there was rainfall in the last week of March, it was mostly mild in nature, and overall, the weather has been favorable for crop growth,” said Paramjit.
Tarlochan Singh from Jandhu Singha village in Jalandhar shared Paramjit’s sentiments. “I am expecting a good crop, but am keeping my fingers crossed until I harvest my crop. It will be ready for harvesting after April 15.”
While there is a prediction of a heatwave and rain in several parts of the country by the Indian Metrological Department (IMD), Punjab and Haryana seem to have be spared.
Nationwide, the wheat crop is sown in October, and harvesting in most parts begins around April.
The IMD reported that 80-85 per cent of the wheat crop was sown either early or timely between October 25 and November 30, with climate-resilient varieties planted over 70 per cent of the sown area.
This year, wheat production is expected to be around 112-114 million tonnes.
Punjab produces around 17-18 million tonnes wheat out of which 12 to 13 million tonnes is procured for the central pool to be distributed under Public distribution System (PDS). Wheat MSP has been fixed at Rs 2,275 per quintal for the current year.
This year, the state government has made arrangements to procure around 132 lakh tonnes of wheat and has set up a total of 1,908 procurement centres. The Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2024-25 began on April 1 and will continue till May 31.
Earlier, Secretary, Punjab food department, Vikas Garg had said that temporary procurement centres are also being opened in addition to the 1,908 regular procurement centres that have been declared as mandi yards.
The procurement agencies needed a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs 30,776 crore out of which Rs 27,077.91 crore has been received while the remaining amount will be received in the month of May.
They also need 4.62 lakh jute bales, of which 3.51 lakh jute bales have been made available, Garg had said, adding that to stop the illegal entry of wheat from other states for sale in Punjab, directions have been issued to police, and to the Punjab Mandi Board to set up checkpoints at the interstate barriers.
In 2022, an early onslaught of heat waves had affected the wheat crop across the producing states and the production had declined, prompting the country, the world’s second-largest wheat producer, to ban exports.
Meanwhile, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra has said that a dedicated farmer helpline has been set up to address procurement-related queries. Besides, the Centre had advanced farmer registration from January 1 instead of March 1 and simplified the land record verification, including that of tenant farmers. A central control room has been set up in the FCI headquarters in Delhi for real-time monitoring of procurement and coordination among various agencies.
This article has been republished from The Indian Express.