The early arrival of summer, followed by unusually high temperatures, has reduced wheat yield in the Malwa region. According to farm experts, the grain has shrunk due to the heatwave, resulting in a low yield. Farmers have already begun to demand compensation, anticipating a drop in their income.
They claim the yield will fall by 350-400 kg per acre, despite experts putting the figure between 180 and 200 kg. According to a Punjab Agricultural University official, "the yield was around 2,080 kg per acre in 2018-19." This season, it is expected to drop to 1,800 kg."
"The reason for low yield is high temperature, which is 6-8 degrees Celsius higher than the previous year," said Dr. JS Buttar, Additional Director, Extension Education, PAU.
Wheat was planted on 35.30 lakh hectares in 2020-21, yielding 1,940 kg per acre. This season, the crop was sown on 35 lakh hectares, with a yield of 1,800 kg expected."
Harwinder Pal, a farmer from Bathinda's Mehma Sarkari village, stated, "The yield has decreased by 280 kg, resulting in a loss of Rs 5,600 per acre." The government must make up for this." The Food Corporation of India gathered grain samples and sent them to be analyzed. "We will forward the report with our recommendations to the Centre, which will take a call on quality cuts and relaxations," said Pratyush Sinha, DM, FCI.
"If the procurement agencies try to impose any cuts, we will launch a statewide protest," said Shingara Mann, state general secretary of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan). We request that the state government compensate us." "We are collecting data," said Dilraj Singh, Secretary of Agriculture, "and a decision on compensation and other issues will be made after its analysis."
Wheat procurement began on April 1, and 33 lakh tonnes of freshly harvested wheat arrived for procurement within 15 days. This season's total wheat production was estimated to be 175 lakh tonnes, but this figure is expected to fall to 155-160 lakh tonnes.
