IMD PREDICTS ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURE IN NORTH INDIA TOO

- SANDIP DAS

IF THE MET department's forecast of a below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperature during January-March, especially in the northern states, turns true, yields of several winter crops including wheat, mustard, chana and horticultural crops could be hit, experts said.

"As seen in the last few years, extreme weather events would adversely impact the crop yields, especially as such incidents occur prior to harvesting of the crop," P K Joshi, agricultural economist and member, Supreme Court-formed panel on farm laws, told FE.

Joshi stated that to mitigate impact of higher temperature or surplus rainfall, there is a need to go for inter-cropping to protect the soil as well as ensure yield losses because weather events compensate by increase in yields of other crops.

Last year the chana or gram output was impacted severely because of unseasonal hailstorm in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan leading to a decline in output and soaring of prices despite the government relaxing imports norms. In 2022 and 2023, wheat crop was hit by above-normal temperature and unseasonal rains in March, just prior to harvesting of the crop.

Government officials have stated that so far rabi crops sowing has been robust and standing crops are unlikely to be impacted, provided there are extreme weathers such as excessive heat or rainfall during the second part of March, when the crops such as wheat, mustard and chana are ready for harvest.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its forecast, has stated that rainfall during January-March 2025 is likely to be in the