'High' damage content, shriveled grains, lustre loss in wheat

CHANDIGARH: Untimely rains and hailstorm have caused extensive damage to crops as wheat samples collected in various districts of Haryana have showed damage content, shriveled grains and lustre loss of up to 60 per cent in the crop.

In its interim report submitted to Union Food Ministry, Food Corporation of India (FCI) has found damage content in wheat crop in the range of 2.5 per cent to 11 per cent as against 2 per cent Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norm for wheat crop.

"The maximum damage content was visible in Jhajjar, Palwal and Rewari districts of Haryana," an FCI official told PTI here today.

Similarly, the extent of shriveled grains in samples of crop arrivals because of freak weather conditions was found to be in the range of 3 to 13 per cent.

"Shrivelled grain is a big problem in Haryana as size of grain was affected due to rains and hailstorm in the state. We have found maximum range of shriveled gains in majority of districts was 10-11 per cent," the official said.

As per FAQ norm for crop procurement, the permissible limit for shriveled grains is 6 per cent.

The inclement weather conditions during the months of February and March also affected the shining of crop as luster loss in the crop was found to be in the range of 20-60 per cent.

In case of lustre loss, crop loses its shine and it is to be consumed early as it become prone to insect attack.

"The wheat samples were collected from 11 districts including Faridabad, Gurgaon, Palwal, Rewari, Jhajjar, Kurukshetra, Rohtak," the official said.

The analysis of wheat samples collected from four districts - Faridabad, Gurgaon, Palwal and Rewari has been sent for suitable action by the Union Food ministry. The report for samples collected from rest districts will be sent today.

"We hope the announcement of relaxation in wheat procurement norms by Centre by Thursday or Friday," he said.

Last month, when Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan visited Haryana to take stock of crop damage, the BJP-led state government had sought to give relaxation in wheat procurement norms in the wake of crop quality getting affected because of inclement weather conditions.

The Haryana government had projected loss in wheat crop over 18 lakh hectares because of hailstorm.