India is expected to witness colder-than-normal conditions in January, improving prospects for key winter-sown (rabi) crops such as wheat, rapeseed and chickpeas, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain below average across most regions, with central and eastern India seeing more cold-wave days.
IMD director-general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Madhya Pradesh, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar could experience one to three additional cold-wave days. Major wheat-growing states—Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh—are expected to benefit from the favourable cold conditions.
However, rainfall across northern and northwestern India is forecast to remain below normal between January and March due to weaker and fast-moving Western Disturbances. Farmers have already sown winter crops on 61.4 million hectares, up 1.1% from last year. Experts say sustained cool weather could lead to bumper rabi harvests.
