LAHORE: The unusual rise in temperatures in the plains of the country is likely to cause the premature and weak development of wheat grain, causing significant reduction in production of the crop as compared to the estimates by the government and growers.

The maximum temperature in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad was 35 degrees Celsius on Sunday and it was expected to rise up to 38 to 39 degrees during the next week, especially in the major wheat growing central and southern Punjab.

According to some leading farmers, the prematurely rising temperatures are likely to accelerate the pace of ripeness of wheat crops. This premature grain would be less than the average normal weight.

Wheat crop is normally harvested by the middle or end of April in Punjab but this time it is expected to be harvested in the first week of the month.

In plain words, the rising temperatures would badly affect the wheat produce this year which would be an estimated 30pc lesser than the target of 26m tonne for the country. Pakistan’s total annual wheat demand is 22 to 23m tonne.

The farmers said less rain and closure of canals in March had already badly affected the crop of the farmers who did not have tube wells. These two factors denied the vital final watering, badly affecting the quality of wheat as a result.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017