Indian Wheat Harvest Seen Lower

WASHINGTON - Apr 4/06 - SNS -- Wheat production in India is not expected to be as great as first thought, according to a recent report from the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

The 2006 harvest is now expected to total 72 million metric tons (MT), down one million from initial forecasts.

"Unusual weather fluctuations in major wheat growing areas since mid-February, such as abnormal high temperatures, followed by untimely rains and hail in the second week of March, and a subsequent drop in temperatures, have tempered the 2006 wheat harvest prospects," the agricultural attache said.

"Frequent temperature variations can cause physiological stress in the crop, adversely impacting yields. These rains and hail, coinciding with the early wheat harvest in states like Madhya Pradesh, have caused localized quantitative and qualitative crop damages. The government continues to forecast production at 73.0 million MT."

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