Unusual weather conditions, including high temperatures in February and unexpected rain, wind, and hail in March due to western disturbances, have left wheat farmers concerned about a possible decrease in their crop's yield, output, and quality in important wheat-producing states.
Western disturbances (WDs) originate in the Mediterranean or Caspian Sea and travel eastward towards India. They are areas of low-pressure that bring sudden showers, snow, and fog in northwest India.?
Western disturbances bring moisture from the Mediterranean Sea and/or the Atlantic Ocean and can bring winter and pre-monsoon rainfall. They are important for the development of the Rabi crop in the Northern subcontinent.
The arrival of WDs is typically associated with a drop in temperature, particularly in northern and western parts of the country.?
Western disturbances, despite commonly being associated with good weather, can also lead to extreme weather events including floods, landslides, dust storms, hailstorms, and cold waves. These events can have serious consequences on human life, infrastructure, and the economy.
In recent years, the frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events have increased, highlighting the need for better preparedness and management strategies.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) keeps a close watch on these weather systems as they can have a significant impact on the country's agriculture and economy.?
Farmers depend on WDs for their crops, particularly wheat, mustard, and peas, and a failure of WDs can lead to crop failure and food shortages.
Untimely rains and winds in India can have a negative impact on wheat crops, especially if they occur during the ripening and harvesting stage.?
The India Meteorological Department has reported that such weather conditions, including stormy winds between 40-50 kilometers per hour, can be harmful to crop health. Crop flattening and waterlogging in fields have also been observed, which can further damage the ready-to-harvest wheat crop.
Recent untimely rains in India may lead to a lower wheat production of 102.9 MT in the 2022-23 agriculture year, according to researchers, which is less than the government's estimate of 112 MT.
However, the government is optimistic that the production will still reach the estimated figure due to increased acreage and better yield this season, despite the slight loss due to adverse weather conditions, reports The Hindu.
Further, India may experience an increase in the prices of wheat and wheat-based products in the domestic market, and a potential foodgrain security issue, if the wheat production falls below the government's estimate, adds the report.
Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India, mainly grown in the north and north-western regions. It is a rabi crop that requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
The top wheat producing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Gujarat.
India is the second-largest producer of wheat in the world after China, but its share in the global wheat trade is less than 1%. Its top export markets are Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. India keeps a lot of wheat to provide subsidized food for the poor.