Commercial purchase of wheat in Punjab reaches record level of 10.79 lakh tonnes

19-May-2025 08:03 PM

Ludhiana. This year, while government procurement of wheat in Punjab reached 119.24 lakh tonnes against the target of 124 lakh tonnes, private purchases rose significantly and hit a record level of 10.79 lakh tonnes. This surge included purchases by flour millers, processors, general traders, stockists, and large establishments who bought wheat directly from farmers at prices higher than the minimum support price (MSP).

The Central Government had fixed the MSP for wheat at Rs 2425 per quintal for the season. However, private buyers offered Rs 100-200 more, with some farmers reportedly receiving as much as Rs 2640 per quintal.

The highest price offered by private buyers was recorded in Sangrur district, which is also the home district of the Chief Minister.

According to official data, by May 15, 2025, a total of 130.03 lakh tonnes of wheat had arrived in Punjab mandis. Of this, 119.24 lakh tonnes were procured by government agencies and 10.79 lakh tonnes by private firms.

The state’s procurement season formally ended on May 15, with no further need to extend the date as wheat arrivals had stopped at government centers. The procurement drive also concluded in Haryana.

At the private level, 2.43 lakh tonnes were purchased in Sangrur, 1.32 lakh tonnes in Faridkot, 1.01 lakh tonnes in Ludhiana (East), 70,704 tonnes in Patiala, and 68,020 tonnes in Bathinda. The remaining purchases were spread across other districts.

In comparison, 7.50 lakh tonnes were bought by private buyers in 2023-24 and 6.50 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. Officially, the highest quantity of wheat was procured in Muktsar (8.77 lakh tonnes), followed by Patiala (8.50 lakh tonnes), Bathinda (8.42 lakh tonnes), Ferozepur (8.38 lakh tonnes), and Tarn Taran (7.56 lakh tonnes).