Wheat production likely to decline by 4-5 percent: Agriculture Minister

"According to initial reports received from various states after unseasonal rains... the estimates show wheat production could drop by 4-5 percent this year," Singh added while addressing a conference on kharif crops here.

The Agriculture Ministry, in its second advanced estimate, has projected wheat production to drop slightly to 95.76 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 95.85 million tonnes in the previous year.

Unseasonal rains and hailstorms have damaged rabi (winter-sown) crops in about 113 lakh hectares of crop area in the country. Total cultivable area in rabi season stands at 600 lakh hectares, the Minister informed.

Singh added that states have adequate funds under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by the unseasonal rains.

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Sonia Gandhi seeks compensation for farmers hit by unseasonal rains

Her visit to the state comes amid increased focus of the party on farmers' issues and its strident opposition to the NDA government's controversial land ordinance, which has brought opposition parties on one platform.
  
"What do they want? They just want relief.I appeal to the government to give right and timely compensation to these farmers. That is what the government's responsibility is," she said during her visit to Bhadra village in Bhiwani district.
  
Gandhi, who is on a day-long visit to the state, is also visiting Gurwara village falling under Rohtak Parliamentary seat, represented by Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda.
  
In the later part of the day she will visit Surakhpur, Jakkhala Road, Gudiani, Mubarikpur chowk and Rattanthal villages of Rohtak apart from visiting Karnal.
  
The Congress President had yesterday visited villages in Kota district of Rajasthan where she met farmers, who have suffered crop and livestock losses, and expressed solidarity with them.

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