Lok Sabha Question No. 2168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-20
Subject: Decline in Wheat Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ravneet Singh, Su Thirunavukkarasar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2168

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH DECEMBER , 2022

## DECLINE IN WHEAT PRODUCTION

## 2168 .     SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल् याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the country's wheat production is projected to have declined nearly 3% to 106.8  Million  Tonnes  (MT)  owing  to  extreme  climate  patterns,  heat  waves  and  excess rainfall  in  some  parts  of  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the reasons for the decline in wheat production in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  various  agricultural  experts  have  flagged  the  recent  mysterious  disease causing dwarfing of crops primarily due to climate change and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  measures  to  address  the  various  issues including climate change and crop diseases impeding wheat production in the country;
- (e) the percentage of wheat production which is available for exports based on WTO norms, restriction, if any, made for export of wheat and wheat flour; and
- (f) if so, the steps proposed by the Government to adopt sustainable technologies for production  of  wheat  and  to  diversify  agricultural  output  away  from  wheat  in  the  wheat producing States of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल् याण मंत्री

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) and (b):    As  per  4 th  advance estimates for the agricultural year 2021-22 (July-June), the  production  of  wheat  is  estimated  at  106.84  million  tonnes,  indicating  a  dip  of  2.75 million  tonnes  (2.5%)  as  compared  to  109.59  million  tonnes  estimated  during  2020-21. This reduction in wheat production is due to the impact of heatwave in March 2022 in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh etc. However, the wheat production during 2021-22 is higher by 2.96 million  tonnes  (2.85%)  than  the average  wheat production  of 103.88 million tonnes (2016-17 to 2020-21).

(c): Stunted  growth  of  paddy  crop  was  reported  in  scattered  parts  of  paddy  growing areas of  Punjab,  Haryana and  Uttarakhand due to the Southern Rice Black  - Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), a viral disease.

(d): Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  developed  various  climate resilient  varieties  of  seeds  in  different  crops  including  wheat  that  are  tolerant  to  climate stress  and  also  keeping  strict  vigil  on  disease  situation  in  the  country.  The  recently released  climate  resilient  mega  varieties  such  as  DBW  187,  DBW  222,  DBW  303,  HD 3226, HD 3086, GW 366 etc. are helping in negating the adverse environmental effects of climate. These varieties have inherent capabilities to tolerate heat, and are helping farmers from losses caused  by  biotic and  abiotic stresses. ICAR  is regularly conducting trainings/workshops/ field days for farmers for adoption of these varieties on large scale. Further,  to  deal  with  long  term  impacts  of  Climate  Change,  the  Government  of  India  is taking  several  steps.  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA)  is  one  of  the Missions within the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The mission aims to  evolve  and  implement  strategies  to  make  Indian  agriculture  more  resilient  to  the changing climate.

(e): Based on WTO norms, there has been no cap on export of wheat from the open market though export from public stock holdings is not permitted. The export of wheat was ''Free" till 12.5.2022. However, in order to manage the overall food security of the country and to support the needs of neighboring and vulnerable countries, the Central Government amended  the  export  policy  of  wheat  from  'Free'  to  'Prohibited'  vide  notification  dated 13.5.2022. However, export is allowed on the basis of permission granted by the GoI to other  countries  to  meet  their  food  security  needs  and  based  on  the  request  of  their Governments.

(f): Steps taken by the Government to adopt sustainable technologies include climate resilient  varieties  of  seeds  in  different  crops  including  wheat  that  are  tolerant  to  climatic stresses. To diversify agricultural output away from wheat in the country, Government is taking  steps under various schemes such as the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture  (MIDH),  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  National  Food  Security Mission  (NFSM),  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region (MOVCDNER), Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), etc. A Crop Diversifications component is also operational under the RKVY Scheme.

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