Likely damage to sown crops stokes food inflation worries

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

rainfall spell over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana is expected to «decrease significantly» in the coming days, but experts believe the rains to have caused significant damage to the already sown kharif crops in the north-western states. The damage to the moong, urad, groundnut and soybean crops could range 10-15%, leading to concerns about a significant increase in prices of these commodities, they said. But the rains could help the paddy crop in Punjab and Haryana.

«The excessive rainfall has caused damage to kharif crops such as cotton, pulses and oilseeds in the northern states,» said Rahul Chauhan of commodity research firm iGrain India. In the northwest, while Rajasthan has received nearly 60% more rains than the long period average till July 10, Gujarat received 15% more, according to the IMD. With Cyclone Biparjoy bringing rains to Gujarat and Rajasthan in early June, sowing for the kharif season had started early.

The recent heavy rainfall could have damaged the plants which were in the germination stage. «The actual damage can only be assessed after the rains subside and farmers can visit their field to take a look at their crops,» said Tanmay Kumar Deepak, head of research at AgriWatch, an agri research firm. While Punjab and Haryana have also witnessed excessive rainfall in the last few days — falling in IMD's category of «large excess» — it could help the paddy crop which requires standing water, Deepak said.

The incessant rains in several northern states have led the IMD to issue advisory for farmers in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It has asked farmers to postpone transplanting of rice in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand. It has also