Rain causes loss in Rabi crops of wheat, mustard

Chandigarh: Rabi crops have faced the brunt of above normal rains this month in India with commodities including wheat, mustard, chickpeas and potato affected by over 60% precipitation in north-western and central India. The inclement weather has caused crop loss in wheat, mustard and chickpea besides affecting the harvesting of potato.

“Rain is suspected to cause crop loss of up to 5% in wheat and the effect is more on the early sown areas where the grain has attained maturity,” Dr Gyanendra P. Singh, director, Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research said. Singh maintained that the loss is widespread in pockets where hailstorm struck the standing crop of wheat.

“The grain will lose lustre and cause quality issues due to the rains, especially where the crop has ripened,” he said. He said the crop is exposed to vagaries of weather till March 17 due to active western disturbance.


The prices of mustard and potato, the most affected commodities, are likely to increase due to damage to crops. The retail price of potato has begun firming up in some states as rains have lashed main potato sown areas in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. As much as 80% of the potato crop has yet to be harvested in West Bengal while the figure in UP is 30%. However, potato prices are expected to decline later this month as arrivals peak in the two states.

The ripened crop of mustard has been hit hard by inclement weather, including hailstorm, in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

“As much as 20% of the crop has been affected by rains and hailstorm in some areas,” said an official of Rajasthan agriculture department. In Rajasthan, about 60% of the mustard crop is yet to be harvested.