India set for record wheat harvest amid heat

 

 

India has said it is on course for a record wheat harvest, despite a heatwave which has damaged prospects for other crops, including rapeseed.

 

The world's second biggest wheat production country raised by 700,000 tonnes to 81.0 million tonnes its estimate for output in 2009-10.

 

The increase pegged output ahead of last year's 80.7-million-tonne harvest and defied expectations from many observers that hot weather in March and April would prevent the crop reaching its full potential.

 

The USDA's New Delhi bureau warned last month over "late season weather developments", and cut to 79.0 million tonnes its estimate for the crop.

 

The bureau said initial optimism was tempered by a significant rise in temperate, which affected proper grain development, lowering yield prospects. Also, extreme hot weather at harvest time resulted in lower-than-normal grain moisture levels, further contributing to potential yield reduction, it said.

 

Last week, Rabobank braced investors to expect to cut to India's wheat crop forecast, noting early maturation in many states.

 

Meanwhile, India's farm ministry cut estimates for other crops, including corn, for which it reduced its production forecast by one million tonnes, and rapeseed, for which the heatwave struck shortly before the start of harvesting.

 

Rapeseed output in the world's third-ranked producing county will come in at 6.6 million tonnes this year, 860,000 tonnes less than previously expected, and below last year's bumper 7.2-million-tonne crop.