Slow Wheat Procurement as Harvest Delays and Private Buying Rise

06-Apr-2026 12:08 PM

New Delhi: Unfavorable weather conditions are hindering wheat harvesting and preparation activities; meanwhile, taking advantage of weak market prices, flour millers, processors, traders, and stockists are procuring wheat in large quantities. Consequently, the pace of government procurement of this vital food grain for the Central Pool is observed to be significantly slower than that of the previous year.

According to official statistics, by the middle of last week, total government wheat procurement had reached only 24,000 tonnes—a figure 6 percent lower than the procurement recorded during the corresponding period last year. The pace of procurement remains sluggish in states such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, while in provinces like Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, the procurement process has not even commenced yet.

The Union Ministry of Food has set a procurement target of 303.36 lakh tonnes of wheat for the 2026 Rabi marketing season; however, the pace of procurement has yet to gain momentum. It is noteworthy that while states such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat were authorized to begin wheat procurement as early as March, this yielded no significant or tangible results. In other states—including Punjab, Haryana, and Bihar—the wheat procurement season officially began on April 1.

This year, authorization for wheat procurement was granted starting March 10 in Rajasthan, March 15 in Madhya Pradesh, and March 17 in Uttar Pradesh. While some limited procurement took place in Rajasthan, the process remained virtually stalled in the other states.