Wheat is one of the most important food grains in the world. But in India, it is next to rice in importance. The people in Hindi-speaking states of India use wheat as their staple food. Wheat is grown in almost all countries of the world. The USA, Canada, Argentina and India are major wheat- producing countries. In our country, wheat is grown in bulk quantities in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and in small quantities in West Bengal and Bihar. Sometimes India has to import wheat from foreign countries in order to meet the needs of its growing population.
Wheat is a Rabi or spring crop. It is sown in mid- October or mid-November and harvested in March- April. Wheat grows better in those areas where rainfall occurs in winter. Moderate rainfall is necessary for the cultivation of wheat. Some amount of irrigation is also needed. Wheat grows best in well-drained fertile land. Cool winters and hot summers are very conducive to a good crop of wheat. But hail and frost are very harmful for wheat cultivation.
When wheat is harvested, it is thrashed and winnowed to separate seeds from husk or chaff. Then the seeds are ground into flour in grinding machines. And from flour we prepare different food items like bread, loaf and cake.
