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Central India witnessed widespread damage to both field and horticulture crops: CRISIL

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23 March 2023, New Delhi: The ongoing harvest window for rabi crops has been lashed by an untimely torrent, causing damage to rabi crops — some already harvested, some ready to be harvested, and some in the development stage, mentioned CRISIL’s Market Intelligence & Analytics report of March 2023.

Between March 1 and 21, 2022, cumulative rains have been 20% more than normal and, in the past four days, 3-4x the normal. On March 21, rain volume in central India was ~1600% more than normal. Many other regions have also received a drenching.

Damaging Drenching
Source: IMD and CRISIL MI&A Research
North, North East, East Update

In the north and northeast, rains have been beneficial for vegetables and mango, but in Bihar, it has damaged wheat and litchi crops. Litchi orchards were in full bloom and excess rains have led to a significant decline in flowering, which is expected to reduce yields by 5-6% on-year. In wheat, lodging has been reported in many places, which would impact yield.

“In West Bengal, paddy has seen grain drop, while potato crop has been damaged in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri. The good part is, most of the potato has been harvested here, so the damage is unlikely to be very significant” said the report.

North-West India

The north-west, comprising Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, has also witnessed wheat lodging, which could lead to a 4-5% decline in yield, compared with previous estimates. The crop is in the maturity stage and was to be harvested in the first week of April. Rains could delay the process.

“Mustard, another major rabi crop has already seen ~70% harvesting, but pods are said to have been damaged for the rest, especially in Rajasthan”, said the report.

Isabgol and cumin, both horticulture crops, have seen pod damage and seed drop in Jodhpur and Nagaur in Rajasthan. Consequently, cumin yields are seen declining 10-15% in Rajasthan.

Central India

Central India comprising Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra witnessed widespread damage to both field and horticulture crops.

Almost 5-10% of the onion crop (currently in the harvesting stage) has been damaged in Nashik, Maharashtra. Farmers are expected to delay harvesting by 8-10 days to prevent bulb rot due to excess moisture. For grapes, yield is expected to fall 8-10%.

In Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, hailstorm has caused lodging in wheat, which could result in a 3-4% yield loss. However, Junagadh, which predominantly grows premium mango varieties such as kesar, has received only light showers that are not detrimental to the crop.

South India

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, too, there is a grain drop in paddy, while maize has seen lodging, which is likely to impact cob maturation. A yield loss of about 3-4% is expected in both crops. Kharif chili, which was in the drying stage, is likely to shrivel or deteriorate in quality owing to moisture ingestion. In Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, mango was on the fruit setting stage and has seen some damage. This could lead to a 4-5% lower yield.

Karnataka is expected to see 5-10% damage to horticulture crops. Tomato has been infested with fruit rot, the onion had shoot breakout, grapes are seeing fruit drop and rotting, and pomegranate is seeing breakage. The damage to wheat, paddy, cumin, onion, tomato, and mango would impact their prices.

Market Price & Availability

The report mentioned that the wheat prices are expected to increase marginally in rabi MY23 (marketing year 2023) on a high base of last year. Paddy prices would rise owing to lower available stocks and export demand.

Further, in vegetables such as onion and tomato, prices are likely to increase owing to damages witnessed in Maharashtra and Karnataka in rabi MY23.

Mango prices would still be stable because there are no reports of widespread damage in Gujarat and Bihar. On the other hand, cumin prices could rise with a decline in yield.

Also Read: Diageo India launches regenerative agriculture program in Punjab and Haryana farmers

(For Latest Agriculture News & Updates, follow Krishak Jagat on Google News)

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