According to officials from both the industry and the weather department, India's important winter-sown crops such as wheat, rapeseed, and chickpeas could suffer damage from untimely rains and hailstorms just before harvesting. These crops have already been affected by heat stress, and any further damage could reduce their output and raise food inflation, which the government and central bank have been attempting to control.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning that key growing states in central, northern, and western regions could experience more rain and hailstorms in the next ten days. This could have a detrimental impact on the standing crops and curtail production. "Rainfall and hailstorms are raising concerns since harvesting of winter crops just started. The standing crops would be affected, and it could reduce the output," stated Harish Galipelli, director at ILA Commodities India Pvt Ltd.
The planting of wheat, rapeseed, and chickpeas usually begins in October and November, with harvesting taking place from the end of February. However, hailstorms and gusts of wind exceeding 30kmph (19mph) could hit states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra in the coming days, as warned by the IMD.
