(Repeats MARCH 15 story. No change to text.)
By Rajendra Jadhav
MUMBAI, March 16 (Reuters) - Untimely rains and
hailstorms could damage India's key winter-sown crops such as
wheat, rapeseed and chickpeas just before harvesting begins for
plants that have already suffered some heat stress, industry and
weather department officials said.
India's weather department has warned key growing states in
central, northern, and western regions could receive more rain
and hailstorms in the next 10 days. That could curtail
production and lift food inflation, which the government and
central bank have been trying to contain.
A drop in wheat production could make it difficult for New
Delhi to replenish inventories, while lower rapeseed output
could force the world's biggest edible oils buyer to increase
imports of palm oil, soyoil and sunflower oil.
"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," said Harish
Galipelli, director at ILA Commodities India Pvt Ltd.
Farmers usually start planting wheat, rapeseed and chickpeas
in October and November, and harvest them from the end of
February.
Hailstorms and gusts of more than 30 kilometre per
hour winds could hit states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra in the next few
days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Winter-sown crops have already been under stress because of
above-normal temperatures and maturing early, said farmer Ramrai
Bohara from Rajasthan, the biggest rapeseed producing state.
The maximum temperature in some wheat growing areas jumped
above 39 degrees Celsius earlier this month, nearly seven
degrees Celsius above normal, according to weather department
data.
"We don't want rainfall and windy weather for two-three
weeks. Crops would fall and harvesting will become difficult,"
Bohara said.
Rainfall would not only reduce yields but could also reduce
the quality of the harvest, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a
global trading house.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav
Editing by Mark Potter)
Messaging: rajendra.jadhav.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.