Singh attributes the expected increase in wheat production to favourable weather, increased acreage, and increased area under high-yielding crop varieties. "We're having a nice winter. Planting was completed on time. Everything is very good right now," Singh said when asked about the wheat crop that had been sown.
Singh stated that the area under wheat cultivation in the country this season was around 33 million hectares, which was expected to be up by 1.5 million hectares over last year.
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are among the most important wheat-growing states in the country. "I anticipate a wheat crop of 112 million tonnes. It will be 5 million tonnes higher than the previous year. Wheat output is expected to rise for three reasons. "The area has increased slightly due to favourable weather, and the area under new varieties has increased," he explained.
High-yielding varieties include DBW 187, DBW 303, DBW 222, and HD 3226, according to him, and are mostly sown in Haryana, Punjab, west UP, and Rajasthan.
"These varieties are also recommended for eastern UP, Bihar, and two of them for Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. "DBW 187 and 303 are pan-India varieties that are recommended for larger areas," he added. Farmers were encouraged to seek out newer varieties, for which seed was also made available. As a result, the area under newer varieties has grown this time, he added.
"As a result, the older, susceptible varieties' area decreases," he explained. Director of IIWBR stated that new varieties increase yield by more than ten quintals per hectare. "If farmers are growing old varieties and if they grow new varieties, 10-15 quintals advantage is always there. Because they (new varieties) are climate resilient and will have the least impact from changing weather," he explained.
Singh stated that the current weather conditions are favourable. "Our expectation is that there should be some rain, which is always good at this stage. Cold weather conditions aid crop tillering and increase yield," he explained. He also stated that the wheat crop in Punjab and Haryana is doing well and that there have been no reports of yellow rust, a fungal disease. According to Singh, fog is also beneficial to the crop. The northern part of the country has been blanketed in dense fog in many places over the last few days.
