December 5, 2024

Above-average winter temperature in India expected, wheat crops may be affected

India is likely to see above-average temperatures during the winter season, the state-run weather office said on December 2, raising concerns about the yields of crops such as wheat and rapeseed.

India is expected to experience above-normal minimum and maximum temperatures from December to February, with fewer "cold wave days expected", the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.

Winter-sown crops such as wheat, rapeseed, and chickpea, are planted from October to December and need cold weather during their growth and maturity stages for optimal yields.

Lower production could force the world's biggest wheat producer after China to import the staple to ensure affordable supplies for its 1.4 billion people, and also to increase imports of pulses and edible oils.

So far, New Delhi has resisted calls for wheat imports despite record-high prices, aiming to avoid upsetting farmers.

In the past few years, it has become clear that temperature matters far more than other factors when it comes to wheat yields, said a Mumbai-based trader with a global trade house.

Hot and unseasonably warm weather hit India's wheat output in 2022 and 2023, leading to a sharp drawdown in state reserves.

To bring down prices by boosting supplies, India plans to sell 2.5 million metric tons of wheat from its state reserves to bulk consumers such as flour millers and biscuit makers.

- Reuters