Rajasthan farmers gung ho about wheat prospects

JAIPUR: Enthused by the perfect setting for wheat cultivation, Rampal Chaudhary, a farmer in Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, is counting every inch of his land. After sowing wheat on his farm attached to his house, he doesn’t want to spare even his back yard. “Conditions are favourable. Good winter rains in November, low temperature and sunny days have just set the stage right for a bountiful yield this year. This time, we hope to reap gold,” he said.

Chaudhary is not the lone farmer in Rajasthan who is gung ho about the prospects of wheat this year. Wheat farmers have been engaged in extended sowing as the acreage crosses the targeted 25 lakh hectares. “We expect the area to go up to 26.5 lakh hectares as sowing is likely to continue till first week of January. If the condition remains favourable as it is now, the production is likely to touch 85 lakh tonne,” said Rajasthan agriculture department chief statistics officer Panna Lal.

The wheat sowing has increased in most parts of the state including Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Tonk districts. Last year, the state had produced 75 lakh tonne grain when the acreage was 23.94 lakh hectares.

“Delay in sowing will translate into good crop size. The increase in MSP from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,120 per quintal has also motivated farmers to go for wheat. However, there would not be any pressure on wheat prices on fresh arrivals,” said Dr Jaishankar Mishra, an agriculture scientist.