The Significance of ICAR's Wheat Development

• The creation of a heat-tolerant wheat variety by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) marks a major milestone in the realm of agricultural advancements.
• HD-3385, the new wheat variety, has been tailored to endure the high temperatures that are common in several regions of India.
• This development is timely as wheat and flour stocks in government warehouses have hit a six-year low (at 154.44 lakh tonnes), and grain inflation has soared to an unprecedented 16.12% year-on-year in January ’23.
• In response to the temperature rise and its potential impact on the current wheat crop, the Union Agriculture Ministry has set up a dedicated committee to monitor the situation closely.

The Challenges Facing Wheat Crops in India:

• The year 2022 saw an unexpected rise in March temperatures, which coincided with the grains’ starch and protein accumulation period. This led to a significant drop in wheat production and government procurement.
• With both maximum and minimum temperatures already exceeding the average by 3-5 degrees Celsius in many wheat-growing areas, there are concerns of a repeat scenario in 2023.
• The early onset of summer and absence of spring break increase the likelihood of India’s wheat crop experiencing terminal heat stress during the final stages of grain production and filling.

ICAR's Solution to Counteract the Heat:

• To combat this issue, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has proposed advancing the sowing period.
• Wheat, traditionally a 140-145 day crop, is mainly sown in November in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh as well as in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, following the harvest of paddy, cotton, and soybean.
• ICAR suggests that if sowing can be commenced around October 20, it could help the crop escape the detrimental effects of extreme heat.

Wrapping Up

The introduction of the new wheat variety, HD-3385, is anticipated to bring about significant improvements in Indian agriculture. It holds the potential to enhance food security , alleviate poverty, and boost farmer incomes. ICAR's continuous efforts in developing new crop varieties capable of withstanding climate change underscore the critical need for investment in agricultural research and development.