February 21, 2023

 

India establishes panel to assess impact of higher temperatures on wheat crop

 

Indian government officials said they have established a panel of officials to assess the impact of higher temperatures on wheat crop, as the country's weather office said higher than normal temperatures will remain in key producing states, Yahoo! News reported.

 

This month, India, the second-largest producer of wheat in the world, said that production would rise 4.1% to a record 112.2 million tonnes.

 

But a lack of winter rains has caused temperatures to rise in some regions of India's northern states where farmers grow wheat. Weather officials said the daily average temperature last week reached early- to mid-March levels.

 

In May 2022, India, which is also the world's second-largest consumer of wheat, outlawed exports after a sharp and sudden rise in temperatures cut production, even as export demand increased to make up for the global shortfall brought on by the conflict in Russia and Ukraine.

 

The committee will be led by India's agriculture commissioner, and it will also include representatives from major India wheat-growing states and government scientists.

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said maximum temperatures this week spiked up to 39°C in some states, which is up to 9°C above average.

 

IMD said maximum temperatures are likely to remain 5°C to 7°C above average in many areas of northwest India.

 

IMD also said wheat that is sensitive to temperature and is approaching the reproductive growth period may suffer as a result of this warmer daytime temperature. A loss in yield is caused by high temperatures during the flowering and maturing periods.

 

The country grows only one wheat crop in a year, with planting in October and November, and harvesting from March.

 

-      Yahoo! News