Govt research body sees record wheat of 96 mn tons in 2012-13

NEW DELHI: Ruling out any production fall in wheat as estimated by the USDA for 2012-13, a government research outfit DWR today said the country's overall output is expected to be at record 96 million tonnes as yield losses in Punjab and Haryana will be compensated by other states.

In its third advance estimate for 2012-13 crop year (July-June), the government has pegged wheat output at 93.62 million tonnes for 2012-13 crop year (July-June) and crop is being harvested from April onwards.

However, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had recently said that India's wheat output is projected to decline to 87 million tonnes in 2012-13 due to yield lossses in Punjab and Haryana due to untimely rains.

Asked about the USDA's forecast, Karnal-based Directorate of Wheat Research (DWR) Project Director Indu Sharma said: "The latest field trial experiments shows that the overall production of wheat could be slightly higher than last year at around 96 million tonnes."

India's wheat production stood at 94.88 million tonnes in 2011-12 crop year.

"Earlier, we anticipated some loss in Punjab and Haryana. But the field trial experiments shows that yield loss in these two states are not significant," she said.

Also, the yield losses in these two states will be compensated by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, she added.

The change in production figures will be reflected in the government's final crop estimate that is due for release by the Agriculture Ministry.

Sharma was here for the launch of a software called 'nutrient expert decision support tools for maize and wheat'.

The software, developed jointly by International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), will suggest farmers on use of fertilisers especially to wheat and maize crops.