New Delhi, February 13: “India must now plan for export of wheat as record yield is expected and there is no trace of any disease or locust,” Prof. Arun Kumar Joshi, Managing Director of Borlaug Institute of South Asia and the country representative of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, has said.
Dr Joshi said despite late monsoon in many parts of the country, the soil moisture enabled farmers to plant on time this season.
“With unexpected changes in the global climatic conditions and trade systems, wheat production in India has been gaining considerable international attention. More over, of late due to situation in Ukraine, there has been an increased demand for wheat from India,” Prof Arun Kumar Joshi added.
The reason for record production of wheat, according to Dr Joshi, is that the area of cultivation has increased. As per government estimate, wheat has been sown in more than 34 million hectares so far in the rabi season. There is confidence among farmers that they can take a good harvest and there will be market available.
“Last year, the market price was higher than the Minimum Support Price (MSP). This year also people believe that the prices will be around MSP,” Prof Joshi explained.
According to Joshi, wheat from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana cannot be exported as the produce is infected by Karnal Bunt ( a fungal disease) “So, wheat from Central India should be exported and the country should plan for it,” Dr Joshi explained.
EOM
