New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday (March 14) said there has not been any effect seen so far on wheat crop due to high temperatures and it will be too early to say about the likely impact. On whether there has been any adverse impact seen in wheat crop as harvesting has started in some states like Madhya Pradesh, Mr Tomar said, “Weather-related challenges are always there in front of agriculture.”
Lekin main samjhta hoon ki abhi koi aisi stithi nahi hai. Koi prabhav pada hai, aisa kahna jaldbazi hogi (But I think, there is no such situation as of now. It will be too early to say that there has been any impact), the minister told reporters here.
Also Read: Centre’s Free Ration Scheme ‘PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ Extended With A Tweak
Mr Tomar was speaking on the sidelines of an event organised here by Plant Based Food Industry Association (PBFIA).
Wheat is a major rabi (winter-sown) crop.
On February 20, the government formed a committee to monitor the situation arising out of any unusual rise in temperature and its impact on the wheat crop, and also to issue necessary advisories to the farming community to save the crop.
The decision to form a committee was taken as some parts of the country witnessed above-normal temperatures.
India’s wheat production fell to 107.74 million tonnes in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) from 109.59 million tonnes in the previous year due to heat waves in some key producing states.
In May last year, the Centre banned wheat exports to control rising prices, after a slight fall in domestic production and a sharp decline in the FCI’s procurement for the central pool.
The government has pegged wheat production at record 112.18 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year as per the second advance estimates by the agriculture ministry.
Earlier this month, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra had said,
So, no heat wave to the extent that would damage the wheat crop is expected over the next two weeks, which is a crucial period for the formation of the grain.
A below 35-degree celsius temperature is not a concern for the wheat crop, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Director A K Singh had said late last month.
Also Read: Experts Link Recent Drop In Wheat Production To Climate Change, Urge India To Take It Up At COP27
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
