Government Wheat Procurement Lags 1.9 Million Tonnes Behind Last Year

24-Apr-2026 10:31 AM

New Delhi. Although there has been a significant increase in wheat procurement for the Central Pool in Punjab and Haryana, Madhya Pradesh has witnessed a drastic decline. Procurement has also been lower in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Consequently, the total government procurement of wheat has registered a decline.

According to official statistics, as of April 22, 2026—during the current Rabi marketing season—a total of 14,865,266 tonnes of wheat was procured for the Central Pool at the national level. This figure is 1,918,387 tonnes lower than the 16,783,653 tonnes procured by the same date last year. The wheat procurement drive is set to continue in various states.

Data indicates that, compared to the previous year, government wheat procurement during the current Rabi marketing season surged from 4.91 million tonnes to 6.72 million tonnes in Punjab, and rose from 5.35 million tonnes to 6.19 million tonnes in Haryana. Conversely, procurement declined from 519,000 tonnes to 315,000 tonnes in Uttar Pradesh; plummeted from 5.2 million tonnes to 1.078 million tonnes in Madhya Pradesh; and dropped from 784,000 tonnes to 513,000 tonnes in Rajasthan. During the current season, government procurement stood at 17,160 tonnes in Bihar, 2,482 tonnes in Uttarakhand, 9,000 tonnes in Chandigarh (Union Territory), 13,206 tonnes in Gujarat, and 1,168 tonnes in Himachal Pradesh—figures that represent an increase over the previous year.

Relaxations regarding the quality-related norms and conditions for wheat procurement have been granted in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.

While the pace of wheat procurement remains brisk in Punjab and Haryana, it is observed to be sluggish in UP, MP, and Rajasthan.

A noteworthy fact is that, despite a substantial total arrival of wheat in the markets of these provinces, government procurement remains low.