The mounting temperatures across most parts of the country have affected the agriculture sector particularly the wheat crop. Since, the early last week, the rising mercury levels have become a major concern for the standing wheat crops.
In fact, even the Centre has portrayed 96.64 million tons of record wheat production thereby even levying a 10 percent import duty on grains as well.
Temperatures across most parts of the northwest plains including Haryana have gone up to 36°C during the last week of March and the temperatures went on to settle at a scorching 38°C on March 28 even surpassing the 40-degree mark by the month end.
Wheat is basically a 140-150 day crop. Out of which, in 90 days, the flowering starts when the ear heads have emerged completely and the complete pollination process takes place.
The final hardening and ripening of the kernel takes place in the succeeding 45 days or even more. Hence, this is the time when the grains get ripe and hence, the temperatures at this time of the year should preferably not surpass 35°C which is not the case here.
Moreover, the abrupt rising temperature is leading to the premature ripening of the grains. Moreover, to fight against this, extra irrigation is also given to keep the atmosphere around the crops down.
The Agriculture Ministry on February 15 had projected the country’s wheat production for 2016-17 at 96.64 mt, exceeding the earlier all-time high of 95.85 mt in 2013-14. In the view of a bumper crop production, the import duty also rose from zero to 10 percent on March 28.
Image Credit: harvestplus.org
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