Relaxation in Quality Standards to Accelerate Wheat Procurement in UP

23-Apr-2026 11:22 AM

Lucknow. The Union Ministry of Food has relaxed quality standards in Uttar Pradesh with the dual objective of accelerating the pace of wheat procurement and providing relief to farmers.

It is noteworthy that while Uttar Pradesh is the country's largest wheat-producing state, it ranks fifth in terms of contributing this vital food grain to the Central Pool.

Exemptions regarding shipment conditions related to wheat quality have already been granted in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab.

Official data reveals that during the current Rabi marketing season, up until April 20, 6.77 lakh tonnes of wheat arrived at the *mandis* (wholesale markets) of Uttar Pradesh; however, government procurement was possible for only 2.75 lakh tonnes of this quantity.

This situation has been a cause for concern for the government. For the current year, a target of 10 lakh tonnes has been set for government wheat procurement in Uttar Pradesh.

During the corresponding period last year, wheat arrivals in UP's *mandis* stood at 10.88 lakh tonnes, with government procurement reaching 4.54 lakh tonnes. Following the relaxation in quality norms, the pace of government wheat procurement in the state is now expected to accelerate.