Spike in Temperature Worries Wheat Farmers; Innovations in Farming

The sudden rise in temperatures has triggered anxiety among farmers, as the wheat crop is currently in the grain formation stage—a critical phase that determines final yield. Experts warn that prolonged exposure to higher-than-normal temperatures during this stage can accelerate crop maturity and reduce grain size, ultimately affecting productivity. Meteorological data shows on 13 Mar all districts of Panjab recorded maximum temperatures above 30°C. Meanwhile, government data suggests that India's wheat production is estimated at a record 120.21 MMT in 2026 which is 2% more from 117.94 MMT in 2025. Meanwhile, a young farmer Gurjot Singh from Matta village, Faridkot district, is transforming the region into a center for a new purple seed potato variety. He says that the production of purple potatoes can lead to earnings between USD 6.5K to USD 21.7K per acre. In 2022 Gurjot imported around 20 kg of purple potato seed tubers from Bolivia in South America. He planted the seed on a small portion of his land to assess whether the crop could thrive in Panjab’s soil and climate. The experiment proved successful and within a few years the crop expanded rapidly. By the fourth year Gurjot was cultivating purple potatoes on about 35 acres of his own land, while another 25 acres are now being developed through contract farming. In Aug 2024, India officially launched its own purple potato variety Kufri Jamunia, but farmers like Gurjot were already cultivating the variety. Another woman entrepreneur from Abohar, Fazilka district is keeping the drink Kanji (probiotic superfood) alive in Panjab and also exporting it to Canada, US, and Ireland. Dolly Setia’s black carrot venture Kanjiwala—Say Hanji to Kanji has given employment to at least 20 local women from Toot Wala village. Dolly’s son Sharad Setia said, 'We are growing black carrots on five acres at our farm. The venture started in 2023 with a very small investment as the shed/building was already in place as earlier we had a kinnow waxing plant. The annual turnover now is USD 108K.' Apart from black carrots, Dolly also manufactures kanji with beetroot, Indian gooseberry, turmeric, red chilli, green chilli, and cucumber flavors (earlier coverage).