WHEAT CRISIS IN INDIA
India is the second-largest producer of wheat in the world, with China being the top producer & Russia the third-largest and Ukraine is the world’s eighth-largest producer of wheat. But this year, production has been less than usual. The Centre has lowered its wheat production estimates by 5.7% to 105 million tonnes from the projected 111.32 MT for the crop year ending June. Wheat procurement by government agencies is also expected to be only half of the target set for this season. Unprecedented heat waves across the north, west and central parts of the country, have caused substantial loss to the yield this year. The production is expected to fall on account of unusually warm weather conditions that persisted during March to April in most parts of the key grain-producing States of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh as well as Uttar Pradesh. Unprecedented heatwaves in March & April being the hottest in over 100 years, have caused substantial loss to the yield a...