Friday, March 17 2006 13:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The recent rain spell and dip in mercury over North India would offset the damages done to wheat crop earlier this year by heat wave while production prospect remain the same, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said.

"The recent rain spell will benefit wheat crop in North India," Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of an event marking the World Consumer Rights Day here.

"Wheat crops in Punjab, Haryana are going to benefit from the last week's cold spell," he added. "The foodgrain output prospect remains the same," he said.

Latest official estimate puts country's foodgrain output at 209 million tonne for 2005-06 with wheat output pegged at 73 million tonne for Rabi season.

Foodgrain output stood at 204 million tonne last year.

Wheat output target for Rabi season stood at 75 million tonne which was revised downwards by two million tonne due to heatwave that blew over North Indian wheat producing states.

The revision took place during the third week of Februarythis year during the annual Rabi conference here.

The minister also said some hailstorm had affected wheat crop in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. "Horticultural crops like mango, orange and pulses like gram and chana also got affected in these states due to hail strom," he added.

Despite these aberrations, Pawar said, the prospects for country's foodgrain production remain the same.

"We are keeping a close watch on price movement of food items including wheat and sugar at futures markets", Consumer Affairs Secretary L Mansingh said.