Government Wheat Procurement Rises 17% to Exceed 350 Lakh Tonnes

04-Jun-2026 05:02 PM

New Delhi: Senior officials from the Union Ministry of Food state that government procurement of wheat has increased by approximately 17 percent compared to last year's figure of 300 lakh tonnes, reaching a level of over 350 lakh tonnes this season. This figure even surpasses the revised procurement target of 346 lakh tonnes. While wheat procurement has now concluded in states such as Punjab and Haryana, the process remains ongoing in several other states.

According to official sources, domestic wheat production during the 2025-26 Rabi season is projected to rise to an all-time high of 1,206.5 lakh tonnes. As market prices dropped below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Food Corporation of India (FCI)—along with its associated state-level agencies—was compelled to procure massive quantities of this vital food grain directly from farmers.

Furthermore, due to unseasonal rainfall and other natural calamities, the quality of the wheat crop in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan was compromised this season; nevertheless, the government proceeded to procure this produce as well.

During the current year, the Central Pool has broadly procured 121 lakh tonnes of wheat from Punjab, 104 lakh tonnes from Madhya Pradesh, 81 lakh tonnes from Haryana, 24 lakh tonnes from Rajasthan, and 17 lakh tonnes from Uttar Pradesh.

The Ministry of Food had initially set a procurement target of 303 lakh tonnes, subsequently revising it to 345 lakh tonnes, and finally to 346 lakh tonnes by June.