Rising temperatures over the past few years is affecting wheat production in the country, and in turn food security, which has raised an alarm in the farm ministry.
Worried over a drop in its production this year due to the sudden March heat, the farm ministry will caution the states to maximise sowing area under wheat in the next Rabi season. “The major factor which has adversely affected wheat productivity in the recent years is rise in temperature either at the tillering stage or at the grain formation stage,” said a farm ministry official.
“As wheat contributes over 71 per cent to total food grains production, this year we should make efforts to increase the wheat production substantially,” he said.
Sources said rise in temperature during November-December affects tillering and number of ear heads per unit area. Rise in temperature in February-March, which coincides with grain formation stage, affects the grain filling and results in shrivelling of grains. These factors affect the productivity of wheat. The farm ministry is also concerned over the fact that in high productivity areas, yield of the food grain seems to be reaching a plateau.
Decreasing soil fertility in respect of carbon and increasing micronutrients deficiency is also affecting crop productivity particularly in the northern parts of the country, said sources.
Therefore, use of organic manners has to be encouraged and also the use of micronutrients based on the soil tests.
The farm ministry will ask the states to ensure that sowing of wheat for the next Rabi crop is completed by end of November and the maximum area is sown under high yielding and high temperature tolerant varieties.