Wheat growers expecting bumper crop this time

KARNAL: Wheat growers in the region have a reason to smile as a bumper wheat crop is expected due to favourable weather conditions.

Despite recent showers and mild hailstorm reported in the wheat growing belt, the crop is flourishing well and farmers are hoping to get high yield of around 22 to 24 quintals per acre as they say the crop is very healthy and there is no major incidence of yellow rust and other diseases.

In view of favourable weather conditions, officials of the state agriculture department are expecting that the wheat production may reach around 120 lakh tonne this year as against the 114 lakh tonne of the last year. The growrh in production is expected despite a small fall in the wheat acreage, which has slipped to 25.5 lakh hectare from 25.75 lakh hectare of the last year.

The year 2011-12 was best for wheat production in Haryana as the state had witnessed a bumper crop of 131 lakh tonne with a record yield of 51.3 quintal per hectare. However, the yield dipped to 40 quintal in 2014-15 due to inclement weather conditions and heavy hailstorm in several parts of the state. “This year, a bumper wheat crop is expected as the weather conditions have been favourable since the sowing season. The per acre production is likely to cross 20 quintal in the northern region,” Karam Chand, deputy director, Haryana agriculture department told Hindustan Times.

“Though yellow rust was spotted in some parts of Kurukshetra district and hailstorm was also reported earlier this month, it did not have any major impact on the crop and now the weather conditions are suitable,” he added. Though the farmers are happy with the healthy crop, they are slamming the government for the meager hike of Rs 100 in minimum support price (MSP) of wheat, taking it to Rs 1625 per quintal. “The crop is good this year but the MSP is not remunerative and the government should increase it more as the production cost and labour charges are increasing every year,” said Rajesh Kumar, a wheat grower of Yamunanagar.

GOVT TO PURCHASE WHEAT FROM APRIL 1: DHANKAR

Meanwhile, Haryana agriculture minister Om Prakash Dhankar has said the government agencies will start procurement of wheat in all grain markets in the state from April 1.

The minister said the government has made enough arrangements to procure the entire produce of farmers. This year, around 65 lakh tonne wheat is likely to arrive in the mandis of the state, he added. KARNAL::Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said the state government was working on the demands raised by leaders of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) and the issue will be resolved amicably.

“The talks were positive and the government is working on their demands. They (Jats) have already started lifting their dharnas. We are hopeful that the issue will be sorted out amicably,” the chief minister said while talking to mediapersons here.

Earlier, the chief minister also inaugurated a passport service centre at the main post office in Karnal.

Speaking on the occasion, Khattar said that the centre will provide passport facility to people of three districts of Karnal, Jind and Panipat.

He said the setting up of the centre will help people to get the facility in their own and nearby cities. He added that around 450 passport centres were being set up in the country.

Officials said around 50 appointments would be given to the applicants at the passport service centre every day from Monday to Friday between 9 am to 3.30 pm.

WITH FAVOURABLE WEATHER, OFFICIALS SAY WHEAT PRODUCTION MAY REACH AROUND 120 LAKH TONNE AS AGAINST LAST YEAR’S 114 LAKH TONNE