Just weeks before harvesting of wheat crop in the country, there is some good news. Despite prolonged warm weather conditions during last few weeks in the northern India, the country?s wheat production is likely to be close to last year?s bumper output of 78.4 million tonne, a research body under the ministry of agriculture on Wednesday said.

Earlier there were apprehensions expressed in many quarters that unusually warm weather during February this year may adversely impact wheat production in Haryana and Punjab, which produces more than 70% of wheat.

?There is no cause of worry, the output would be enough to meet the country?s requirement,? Jag Shoran, director, Karnal based directorate of Wheat Research, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, told FE.

The Indian Meteorological department recently said that daytime or maximum temperatures are above normal by around 7 degree celsius in the northwest, which includes the main wheat-growing regions, However, Shoran said that cooler temperature at night has helped the wheat crop.

He also said that wheat crop in Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh have been partially impacted and production will be marginally less than last year?s record harvests.

The ministry of agriculture had earlier predicted that the wheat production in 2009 may be lower at 77.7 million tonne due to decrease in acreage to 27.8 million hectare from last year?s 28.1 million hectare.

It would be two consecutive good yield year for the wheat crop as due to crop failure two years back the country had to import more than 1.8 million tonne of wheat during 2006-07 for meeting its strategic reserve and its commitment for providing subsidised food grains through targeted public distribution system through Food Corporation of India.

During 2006-07, FCI could only procure about 11 million tonne against the target of 15 million tonne. Even during 2005-06, the wheat imports were to the tune of 5.5 million tonne as procurement level was low at 9.2 million tonne.

While the domestic annual consumption of wheat is in the range of 70 million tonne, the higher reserves roughly to the tune of close to 20 million tonne with FCI has ensured that wheat prices have remain stable in the domestic market. On Wednesday, the wheat price was Rs 1,080 per quintal in Delhi.