Unseasonal rain may dent wheat output, quality

Pune: Unseasonal rain and hailstorms in parts of India in the past week may reduce wheat output by 3-4% and hurt grain quality while also damaging onions and summer crops at harvest, according to early estimates. The industry previously pegged wheat production during the 2025-26 season, beginning October last year, at 115 million tonnes.

While prices may stay stable for now, better-quality wheat is likely to command a premium, widening price gaps, according to industry executives and experts. Onion prices could also increase after July as rain-hit crops with poor shelf life reduce supply.

Central and state governments are assessing the extent of the losses. "The wheat that is still in the fields or is being harvested, such as in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana, is expected to suffer quality losses. The crop that was lodged due to heavy rainfall and hailstorm is likely to suffer losses. Our teams are assessing the losses at the field level, even as the weather office has forecast more rainfall this week," said Navneet Chitlangia, president, Roller Flour Millers' Federation of India.