Impact of untimely rain on wheat crop marginal

On track to achieve FY24 procurement target, says FCI; no lifting of export ban

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

There has not been a large impact of untimely rain and hailstorm so far in several major wheat-growing areas, and those might have damaged around 3 per cent of the standing crop -- not enough to make a big dent in the expected 112 million tonnes of production in FY24, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Relentless rain pounded most North Indian states all through March.

Separately, the chairman of Food Corporation of India. (FCI), Ashok K Meena, told reporters the agency was on track to achieve the targeted 34 million tonnes of procurement in FY24 on the back of a strong start to the purchase season Madhya Pradesh.

He said wheat procurement would not be delayed anywhere in the country owing to rain and FCI centres would open in time.

However, it depends on the farmers whether they would delay bringing the crop to ensure it is properly dried to get the best value, he said.

Gyanendra Singh, director of the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR), told Business Standard: "As of now the ground situation is that at best the loss due to recent rain and hailstorm in wheat-growing areas is not more than 3 per cent but despite that we are on track to reach the estimated 112 million tonnes of production in FY24." He said his institute had communicated this to government authorities.