WHEAT EXPORTS - AGRICULTURE
News: Wheat export doubles to $1.48 bn in April-Sept.
What's in the news?
● The country's wheat exports more than doubled to $1.48 billion during April-September 2022-23 as compared to the year-ago period, the Commerce Ministry said it.
● The exports stood at $630 million in the year-ago period.
Key takeaways:
● Though the government banned wheat exports in May, some shipments are allowed to meet food security needs of the countries that request for it.
● "Wheat exports rose to $1,487 million in April-September 2022 from $630 million in April-September 2021," the Ministry said.
● The global wheat supply has been seriously disrupted because of the Russia-Ukraine war. Both nations are major wheat producers.
● The Ministry also said exports of agricultural and processed food products rose 25% during the six- month period of this fiscal year.
● The overall export of Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) products increased to $13.77 billion in April-September 2022 from $11.05 billion in the same period a year ago.
● For 2022-23, an export target of $23.56 billion has been fixed by APEDA and export of $13.77 billion has already been achieved in the six-month period.
● Similarly, export of fresh fruits increased to $313 million during the period under review as compared to $301 million a year ago.
● Export of lentils increased from $135 million to $330 million.
● Basmati rice exports too increased to $2.28 billion during April-September 2022 from $1.66 billion a year ago.
● Shipments of non-basmati rice registered a growth of 8% to $3.20 billion.
● Similarly, export of poultry products rose 83% to $57 million, while shipments of dairy products increased 58% to $342 million.
Wheat:
● Wheat is the second most important staple food after rice consumed by 65% of the population in India and is likely to increase further due to changes in food habits.
● Wheat is mostly consumed in the form of ‘chapati’ in our country for which bread wheat is cultivated in nearly 95 percent of the cropped area.
● Durum wheat, which is most suitable for making macaroni, noodles, semolina and pasta products, occupies about 4 to 5% of the area, and is predominantly grown in Central and Peninsular parts of India.
Cultivation:
● There are two important wheat producing zones in the country – the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and the black soil region in the Deccan.
● In north India, wheat is sown in October – November and harvested in March – April.
● In south India, it is sown in September-October and harvested in December – January
Climate and Soil:
● Wheat is a rabi crop that requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
● Temperature: Between 10-15°C (Sowing time) and 21-26°C (Ripening & Harvesting) with bright sunlight.
● Rainfall: Around 75-100 cm.
● Soil Type: Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy (Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region of the Deccan).
Production:
Top Wheat Producing States: Uttar Pradesh > Punjab > Haryana
Top Wheat Producing Countries: China > India > Russia