The production of wheat in the country is likely to surpass the previous record of 95.85 million tonnes (MT) achieved in 2013-14, as per information provided by Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain. The wheat production will take place despite some crop damage in few places due to recent unseasonal rains.
The Ministry in its second estimate, had last month pegged wheat output slightly lower at 95.76 MT for the ongoing 2014-15 crop year (July-June). However, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) stated that recent rains have rather been beneficial to wheat crop and expects wheat production to be a record 97-98 MT.
According to the Government’s data placed before Parliament, standing crops in over 50 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal have been damaged by the recent unseasonal rains.