Rains wash away worry for crops like wheat, mustard and gram in North

NEW DELHI: Rains in the North are expected to benefit crops which would have suffered if the unusually warm weather had continued. The major concern was for wheat, mustard and gram crop, which requires lower temperature for growth. The high temperature, however, has come as a boom for vegetable growers, particularly potato and tomato, as it has repelled pests which thrive in frosty weather.

Temperatures will play a critical role for the next two months before harvesting begins and planting for summer crops starts.




"Drop in temperature will help the standing wheat crop, which has two more months before harvesting begins," said Indu Sharma, director at the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research in Karnal. "If weather remains conducive, the loss in production might not be huge." As on January 8, wheat has been planted on 28.2 million hectares, 6 per cent lower than this time last year, according to the agriculture ministry. In 2015, wheat production was 88.94 million tonnes, compared with 91.50 million tonnes the previous year.