WHEAT FEELS THE HEAT

India's food security may be staring at a crisis this year. At the centre of this is the rising mercury that has sent alarm bells ringing in the wheat-producing belts in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat.

- Rahul Noronha

The consistently higher-than-normal temperatures during this critical time in the wheat crop cycle are likely to adversely impact the government's output estimates. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), February 2023 was the warmest since 1901. The maximum temperature reached 29.54 degrees Celsius-1.7 degrees higher than normal.

The farm community apart, policymakers, too, are concerned given that lower production of wheat would have a cascading effect on Public Distribution System (PDS) planning, food inflation and, eventually, the general economic scenario. This week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took cognisance of the harsh summer forecast and directed the Food Corporation of India to ensure optimal storage of grains.

In areas outside commands of irrigation projects, sowing of wheat was mostly done belatedly last year, in November and December, because of the delayed withdrawal of monsoon in parts of the country. A sedate spring would have helped, but excessive heat at the pre-flowering and flowering stages is now affecting pod formation and plants that have the seed formed in them. Heat has an effect of 'forced ripening' which leads to shrivelling of the grain and consequent weight loss. Rains, hail and thunderstorms in central India brought a temporary respite from the heat, but equally the risk of crop damage. And the heat is likely to return in the coming days.