2015 wheat output could fall 4% year-on-year, says Sanjeev Kumar Balyan

NEW DELHI: Wheat production may fall by 4 per cent during the 2014-15 crop year from record 95.85 million tonnes in the previous year as the crop was affected due to the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorms.

"Wheat production could be lower by 4 per cent from last year," Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Kumar Balyan told reporters here.

The Agriculture Ministry, in its second advanced estimate released in February, had projected wheat output at 95.76 MT during 2014-15 crop year (July-June) as against 95.85 MT in the previous year.

However, the unseasonal rains and hailstorms witnessed during March-April this year in various states affected the rabi crops, including wheat.

Last month, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had also said that wheat production could decline by 4-5 per cent in the current crop year.

"According to initial reports received from various states after unseasonal rains...the estimates show wheat production could drop by 4-5 per cent this year," Singh had said.

India is the world's second largest producer of wheat. Unseasonal rains and hailstorms from February 28 till March 31 have affected crops in over 10 states, including major wheat producing states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.

As on May 5, 2015 an estimated 18.23 million hectares under crops were affected in the country due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms.