Government procurement period of gram likely to be extended till mid-July

19-Jun-2025 08:09 PM

New Delhi. The government’s procurement deadline for gram, the most significant Rabi season pulse, was initially set to end on 30 June 2025. However, due to substantially lower procurement than the revised buffer stock target, the period is now likely to be extended by 15 days—until 15 July 2025.

This will be the second extension, as the original procurement window, which was scheduled to close on 31 May, had already been extended once.

The Ministry of Agriculture had set a target of procuring 28 lakh tonnes of gram for the central buffer stock, anticipating a good harvest in the 2024–25 Rabi season.

This was necessary as gram stocks in the buffer had dropped significantly. Consequently, procurement proposals from major producing states were approved.

However, high market prices meant that government agencies faced difficulty procuring gram at the MSP of ₹5,650 per quintal, and the procurement target had to be revised downward—first to 10–15 lakh tonnes, and later to just 4–5 lakh tonnes.

According to official sources, government procurement has so far crossed 3.10 lakh tonnes, and reaching a final figure of 4 lakh tonnes now appears feasible. Achieving the 5-lakh-tonne mark remains unlikely.

Among states, Gujarat has led the procurement with around 1.50 lakh tonnes, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 99,000 tonnes and Rajasthan with 50,000 tonnes.

Maharashtra contributed just 3,000 tonnes. Since procurement in Madhya Pradesh has concluded, the government is now focusing on increasing purchases in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Officials believe that the onset of the monsoon may encourage more farmers to sell their stock, as storing gram during the rainy season becomes difficult. This could boost procurement volumes in the coming weeks.