'YET TO RECEIVE REPORT FROM STATES' - Some damage to wheat crop due to untimely rains: Centre

The Centre on Monday said there has been some damage to the standing wheat crop in key growing states due to untimely rains and hailstorm, but it is yet to receive a ground report from the state governments. There is no concern about mustard and chickpea (chana) crops as most of it has been harvested. In the case of horticultural crops, localised hailstorms might have affected some crops like banana and potato, it said.

For the last two days, many parts of the country have been receiving unseasonal rains, hail and heavy winds due to western disturbances. Wheat is the main rabi crop, harvesting of which has started in some parts of the country. Mustard and chickpeas are other major rabi crops. The government has projected a record wheat output of 112.2 million tonnes for the 2022-23 crop year (July-June).

"There has been some damage. We have not received an assessment report on the extent from the state govof damage ernments, Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary said. He said the state governments are utilising the funds under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). The central government will provide compensation under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) if the state governments submit a report after assessing the extent of damage.