Wheat harvest delay likely as rains slam standing crop

Adequate harvests are critical this year amid wheat shortages and high food inflation

- Zia Haq

Squally weather and rains have damaged wheat crops in almost all key producer states, but ascertaining the extent of losses might take weeks, according to preliminary assessments by officials of a panel formed in view of anticipated early-summer heatwaves.

Storms, rain or hail could batter almost the entire country for another two days, an update by state-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. Several rain-bearing systems are currently active, it said.

Crop-shrivelling hot spells have however not struck any wheat-growing state in March so far, as predicted, barring pockets of Gujarat and Konkan in western India.

India is on alert over heatwaves which could pressure the economy, especially agriculture, power generation and water supply. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been reviewing the situation, spelling out emergency measures.