Climate to spoil wheat party

New Delhi, July 6: According to the ‘Wheat Report 2008: Future Tense’, brought out jointly by Assocham and AgriWatch, country’s wheat production may fall by about half a ton per hectare in 10 years.

According to a current estimate, the average wheat production in the country stands at estimated 2.6-2.7 ton per hectare.

Agronomic impact of climate change is key to mitigate the risk of wheat production falling by 0.45 ton per hectare in case the winter temperature rises by a minimum of 0.5 degree celsius, the report says.

This change in climate would force farmers to shift crop patterns, the report says. Talking about the outlook for the next 10 years, it says wheat demand is expected to cross 110 million tonnes by 2010. — PTI

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Inflation likely to hit 13%

New Delhi, July 6: Inflation may climb up to 13 per cent before reversing in December and is unlikely to drop below 10 per cent ahead of Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for April-May 2009, a senior government official has said.

"My feeling is that it (inflation) will go up to 13 per cent before it comes down by December," he said.

The government official said given the cascading effect of petrol, diesel, steel and cement, price rise may remain in double digits and not go below 10 per cent for the next nine months.

— PTI