A sharp drop in India’s wheat crop is bringing cheer to Australian wheat exporters. Unseasonable rain ravaged India’s wheat bumper harvest this year, leaving world’s second largest wheat producer to import Australian wheat to meet its domestic demand.
While untimely rain in North India has left a trail of destruction and Indian government is still mulling over appropriate distribution of compensation to the distressed farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, independent Indian flour mills are wasting no time in taking immediate remedial measures to procure the staple food item.
Confined to importing only or below 20,000 tonnes of wheat since 2010, India has already imported almost 80,000 tonnes of wheat after the essential winter crop was severely damaged by rain in March.
Western Disturbance over hills and plains of North India including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and cyclonic circulation over North Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra were the main contributors to this widespread damage.
“March this year remained the wettest for most parts of the country. Delhi even witnessed the wettest March in last 100 years. The spillover of rain into April cannot be ruled out,” says G.P. Sharma, chief meteorologist, Skymet Weather Services.
Substantial damage to the Rabi or winter crop due to spells of heavy unseasonal rain and hailstorm in March has also forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consult the agricultural ministry and respective chief minsters for the accurate assessment of the damage to Rabi crop, immediately.
According to media reports and official assessment, rain has only damaged 10-15% of the wheat harvest this year. Though analysts predict the loss to be higher, pegging it at around Rs 60,000 crore.
"Untimely rain has been expected to damage almost 20% of the wheat output in parts of North India. With more rain expected during the first week of April, the damage is likely to increase even further that will not even spare pulses, vegetables and fruits,” explained Nalin Rawal, Agri Research Analyst, Skymet Weather Services.
Overall wheat output and quality of crop is expected to take a hit as more rain is likely in April.
