But Rai could not explain how the wheat production in 1998-99 would reach the level of 75 million tonnes with a total area coverage of 19.6 million hectares when in 1996-97, the total wheat production was only 69.3 million under an area coverage of 19.7 million hectares.

However, he hinted at factors like less damage likely to be caused to crops this season and farmers adopting special high yielding varities as possible reasons. He expressed some concern over pulse production.

Rai also said that the present weather conditons are most congenial for wheat crop. The prevailing low temperatures in major wheat growing states are conducive to facilitatetillering which is in progress now. Though the entre north India is presently under thick fog, situation has still not come for the icified dew drops (pala) to fall on crop. Hence there is no fear of any likely damage to the crops. He said that the only deterrent effect due to the foggy cover in the early morning is marked by a low level of photosynthesis. In the afternoon when the fog usually wears thin, some amount of photosynthesis is taking place. In normal conditions the level of photosynthesis is lower in afternoon hours than in early morning, he said.After the morning sky is cleared of fog, which is likely in near future there will be substantial gain to the crops by way of increased level of photosynthesis. There may be chances of fog being cleared after a shower of rain. But if clouds reappear after rains this will cause pests like aphids to grow particularly on oilseed crops.

On the whole, Rai, however, discounted all these `minor' distadvantages and stated that all the major rabi crops likewheat, rapeseed, mustard, chickpea and pigeon pea in the fog predominated area of north India have good prospects. Besides as this belt is well irrigated, the problem of low level of photosynthesis due to the presence of fog will be minimised to a great extent.

Rai also discounted rumours of any major incidence of pests or diseases on crops. He said that there are some scattered incidences of pests and diseases which are much below the economic threshold limit. This is usual occurrance in every season, he said.

The total area coverage under wheat till date is 19.6 million hectares as against 19.7 million hectares in 1996-97. The sowing of early varities of wheat is almost complete in Punjab and Haryana and the sowing of late sown varities is in progress. The sowing of wheat in other wheat growing states is also in progress.

The total area coverage under rabi rice has been reported to be 1.67 mllion hectares as compared to 1.64 million hectares during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Thesowing of barley and rabi jowar is complete. In case of barley, 0.66 million hectares have been reported as compared to 0.68 million hectares during the corresponding period of the previous year. Area coverage under jowar is 4.4 million hectares as compared to 5.53 million hectares during the correspondng period of the previous year. Maharashtra state government has indicated that area coverage under rabi jowar will be about 80 per cent of the normal area but reports are still awaited from various districts. In case of rabi maize, an area of 0.41 million hectares has been reported to be covered as compared to 0.42 million hectares during the corresponding period in the previous year.

Area coverage under rabi oilseeds so far is 8.8 million hectre as compared to 9.5 million hectre covered during the corresponding period last year. During 1996-97, up to this period, 9.3 million hectre was covered under oilseeds. Rapeseeds and mustard are a major rabi oilseed crop and area covered so far is 6.44 million hectreas compared to 6.55 million hectre covered during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Toria and mustard crop is in vegetative to flowering stage. Trace incidence of mustard sawfly, whitefly, leafminer, alternaria blight and white rust has been reported on these crops in J&K, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Incidence of cut worm has been observed on these crops in West Bengal.

Sunflower is in flowering stage. Incidence of helicoverpa, aphid and leaf spot has been noticed in few districts of Karnataka.

The area coverage under rabi pulses so far is 12.4 million hectre as compared to 11.4 million hectre during the corresponding period of the previous year. Bengal gram is a major rabi pulse crop and area covered under it so far is 7.3 million hectre as compared to 6.64 million hectre covered during the corresponding period in the previous year. MP and Rajasthan are major Bengal gram producing states.

Red gram crop is in flowering to pod formation stage. Control measures against helicoverpain Karnataka and Maharashtra have been initiated. Gram crop is in branching to vegetative stage. Moderate incidence of helicoverpa is noticed in isolated fields in Nagpur in Maharashtra. Control measures are beng initiated.

Cotton crop is in ball formation to ball opening stage. Moderate to severe incidence of whitefly has been noticed in Parkasan district of Andhra Pradesh.

Potao crop is in vegetative to tuber formation stage. Trace incidence of grasshopper and early blight has been noticed in Himachal Pradesh, late blight in Punjab, cut worm and lachna beetle in Bihar, diamond black moth and termite in Haryana and jassid, aphid and grasshopper in UP.

Reviewing all these situation, Rai expressed some concern over pulses. He said that the production of chickpeas, lentils, peas, lathyrus will be good provided the temperatures do not rise beyond tolerable limts for these crops in February and March. He said that area coverage under chickpea has already come down as in previous years. This is due tofarmers diverting to wheat and growing chickpeas on marginal lands. The area coverage under pigeonpea is already stabilised as farmers have gone for extra early varieties in west UP, Punjab and Haryana. However, in east UP and Bihar, the farmers are still growing 9-month late variety. Lathyrus is hardy in texture and is grown in Orissa, east UP, Bihar, West Bengal and can withstand water stress conditions.

Rai stated that efforts are needed to develop early sown varieties of chickpeas so that its area coverage can improve. There s also a need to make other pulses resistant to water stress conditions by developing improved hybrid varieties with transgenic materials from lathyrus. He admitted that much needed attention has not been given to pulses so far.

Area coverage under rabi oilseeds so far is 8.8 million hectre as compared to 9.5 million hectre covered during the corresponding period last year. During 1996-97, up to this period, 9.3 million hectre was covered under oilseeds. Rapeseeds and mustard area major rabi oilseed crop and area covered so far is 6.44 million hectre as compared to 6.55 million hectre covered during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Toria and mustard crop is in vegetative to flowering stage. Trace incidence of mustard sawfly, whitefly, leafminer, alternaria blight and white rust has been reported on these crops in J&K, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Incidence of cut worm has been observed on these crops in West Bengal. Sunflower is in flowering stage. Incidence of helicoverpa, aphid and leaf spot has been noticed in few districts of Karnataka. The area coverage under rabi pulses so far is 12.4 million hectare as compared to 11.4 million hectre during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Bengal gram is a major rabi pulse crop and area covered under it so far is 7.3 million hectare as compared to 6.64 million hectre covered during the corresponding period in the previous year. MP and Rajasthan are major Bengal gram producing states.

Red gram crop isin flowering to pod formation stage. Control measures against helicoverpa in Karnataka and Maharashtra have been initiated. Gram crop is in branching to vegetative stage. Moderate incidence of helicoverpa is noticed in isolated fields in Nagpur in Maharashtra. Control measures are being initiated.

Cotton crop is in ball formation to ball opening stage. Moderate to severe incidence of whitefly has been noticed in Parkasan district of Andhra Pradesh. Potato crop is in vegetative to tuber formation stage. Trace incidence of grasshopper and early blight has been noticed in Himachal Pradesh, late blight in Punjab, cut worm and lachna beetle in Bihar, diamond black moth and termite in Haryana and jassid, aphid and grasshopper in UP.

Reviewing all these situation, Rai expressed some concern over pulses. He said that the production of chickpeas, lentils, peas, lathyrus will be good provided the temperatures do not rise beyond tolerable limits for these crops in February and March.

He said that area coverageunder chickpea has already come down as in previous years. This is due to farmers diverting to wheat and growing chickpeas on marginal lands. The area coverage under pigeonpea is already stabilised as farmers have gone for extra early varieties in west UP, Punjab and Haryana.

However, in east UP and Bihar, the farmers are still growing 9-month late variety.

Lathyrus is hardy in texture and is grown in Orissa, east UP, Bihar, West Bengal and can withstand water stress conditions.Rai stated that efforts are needed to develop early sown varieties of chickpeas so that its area coverage can improve. There s also a need to make other pulses resistant to water stress conditions by developing improved hybrid varieties with transgenic materials from lathyrus.

He admitted that much needed attention has not been given to pulses so far.