India is one of the leading countries in wheat production. States such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are the major wheat producing states in the country followed by West Bengal, Orissa and Assam, among others.

However, the present scenario of wheat production in the country indicates that the existing varieties are being afflicted by certain diseases such as yellow rust and UG99. While the former is a disease that attacks wheat produced in the cooler environment, the latter is a kind of wheat epidemic of stem rust.

In an endeavour to put an end to all the wheat-related problems, the Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal, through its extensive and exhaustive researches, has come up with seven new varieties of wheat.

The wheat varieties

According to the researchers, the seven new varieties of wheat—including NIAW1415, MP3288, WH1080, HS507, HI1563, PDW315&WHD943 and PBW621&DBW50—with their own specialities have to be grown in specific regions at a particular time of the year.

“Since 1965, at least 373 varieties of wheat have been grown. We will send the new varieties to the Ministry of Agriculture for its approval. Once approved the new varieties will go to the farmers for cultivation,” said Dr S S Singh, project director of the Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal, in an interview with a FoodProcessing360 correspondent. Adding further, Dr Singh said that the new varieties would have more fighting power against diseases and pest attacks than the earlier varieties.

On the issue of acceptability of the new wheat varieties, Vimal Sawansukha, one of the directors of Aaha Impex Private Limited, a company specialising in food supply and export in Mumbai said, “The new varieties will be accepted by the people if they are priced reasonably.” 

Production data

A rabi crop, wheat is grown during winter. The sowing is done generally in the months of October-December and it is harvested from February-May. This year, India is expected to register wheat production of around 80.71 million tonnes (mt), while the target of wheat production for 2011 has been set at 82 mt.