Even after the hailstorms lashed several states and damaged standing wheat crop, the Central government is certain that the country will meet the wheat production target for 2008-09.

According to data provided by officials, wheat crops in around 100,000 hectares of land have been damaged in Haryana itself after the recent hailstorms.

After a great winter and good climatic conditions, the surprise rains took heavy toll on the ripe wheat crop.

The exact loss was being assessed and a special revenue assessment will be ordered later.

However, agriculture secretary P K Mishra said in New Delhi that the government's 2008 wheat production estimate remains unchanged at 74.81 million tonnes despite the recent rains.

Heavy rains and hailstorms lashed several parts of northern India over the weekend, which produces more than 90% of the country's annual wheat output.

India's wheat stocks in state-run granaries were at 5.58 million tones as of April 1, well above the government's buffer stock requirement of 4 million tonnes, a senior government official said.

Rice stocks on the same date were at around 9.66 million tonnes, while total foodgrains stocks totalled 15.24 million tones.

India's foodgrains stocks as on April 1, determine the extent of wheat imports in that particular marketing year.