Wheat Crop Suffers 15–25% Damage in Several Districts

10-Apr-2026 07:50 PM

New Delhi: While the exact extent of the damage inflicted upon the wheat crop across various states—due to unseasonal rains, storms, hailstorms, and other adverse weather conditions—will only be ascertained following official government surveys, preliminary estimates from the trade and industry sectors indicate significant losses. According to these rough assessments, 15 to 25 percent of the wheat crop has been damaged in certain districts, while in others, the damage ranges from 5 to 15 percent.

The districts most severely affected—where crop damage stands between 15 and 25 percent—include Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, and Ropar (Rupnagar) in Punjab; Rewari in Haryana; Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh; Begusarai in Bihar; and South Dinajpur in West Bengal.

Additionally, reports suggest that the crop has sustained 10 to 15 percent damage in several other districts. Across 51 districts spanning eight states, reports indicate that between 3 and 5 percent of the wheat crop has been adversely affected. This damage is particularly pronounced in regions that bore the brunt of severe storms and heavy rainfall.

In Rajasthan's Bikaner district, wheat production is projected to decline by 3 to 5 percent, following the extensive damage inflicted upon the crop by a severe storm that struck on April 2nd.

The Central Government has set a procurement target of 303.36 lakh tonnes of wheat for the current year; however, the pace of procurement remains sluggish due to adverse weather conditions, a shortage of gunny bags (packaging material), and various other logistical challenges.

In Rajasthan, significant relaxations have been granted regarding the quality specifications for wheat procurement, and similar announcements are anticipated for other affected states.