Erratic weather takes a toll on rabi crop yields

Unpredictable weather patterns have adversely affected rabi crops such as wheat and mustard, which account for almost 70% of India's winter food-grains basket. Experts predict lower yields for these crops would hurt farmers' incomes.

- Puja Das

Unseasonal rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and torrential rain with hailstorms in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar is estimated to have cut wheat yields by 1-2%. Besides, the mustard crop's flowering and maturity were disrupted by cold waves in December and January and unseasonal rain in February and March, particularly in Rajasthan and Haryana, leading to an estimated 3-4% drop in yields.

"Wheat yield is seen to be 3.24-3.25 tonnes per hectare as against the normal 3.3 tonnes; however, it is better than last year's yield. Mustard yield is estimated to have fallen 3-4%," said Pushan Sharma, director of Crisil Ltd.

According to the government's second crop estimates, wheat and mustard crops in the current year are pegged at 112 million tonnes (mt) and 12.8 mt, respectively, compared with last year's 107.7 mt and 11.9 mt.