Government Procurement of Wheat Expected to Gain Momentum Soon

18-Apr-2026 11:13 AM

New Delhi. Compared to last year, government procurement of wheat during the current year—up until mid-April—has plummeted by 48 percent, stalling at 3.66 million tonnes.

This decline was primarily due to delays in harvesting and crop preparation caused by adverse weather conditions, which also adversely affected the quality of the crop in several regions.

The moisture content in the wheat grains increased, their natural luster faded to a yellowish hue, and the grains also became flattened.

The government has now begun granting relaxations in quality standards. Such relaxations have already been granted in Rajasthan and Haryana, while an announcement regarding the same is imminent in Punjab.

With the exception of Haryana, the pace of government wheat procurement remains significantly sluggish in the other four states that contribute the most to the Central Pool—Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The situation appears most precarious in Madhya Pradesh.

However, the weather has now begun to clear up, and the pace of harvesting is accelerating; consequently, there is a strong likelihood that the momentum of government procurement will pick up significantly in the days ahead.