The pace of government procurement of wheat started slowing down

14-May-2025 08:58 PM

New Delhi. Government procurement of this important food grain has reached its final stage in the three key states that contribute the most wheat to the central pool – Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. Wheat procurement in Punjab and Haryana will conclude by May 15.

In Madhya Pradesh, procurement will continue beyond this date, though the quantity procured there is already close to the revised target.

According to available information, more than 290 lakh tonnes of wheat has already been procured for the central pool, which is 16 percent higher than last year.

Out of this, 117.10 lakh tonnes have been procured in Punjab against the target of 124 lakh tonnes, 77.70 lakh tonnes in Madhya Pradesh against the revised target of 80 lakh tonnes, 70.30 lakh tonnes in Haryana against the target of 75 lakh tonnes,

9.62 lakh tonnes in Uttar Pradesh against the target of 30 lakh tonnes, and 14.90 lakh tonnes in Rajasthan against the target of 20 lakh tonnes. Wheat harvesting and related preparations have been completed in these five states, as well as in others including Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

The Union Food Ministry had set a national wheat procurement target of 332.70 lakh tonnes this season. However, due to record private purchases of over 11 lakh tonnes by traders and flour millers in Punjab,

government procurement fell short of the target by 6-7 lakh tonnes. Haryana is also 4 lakh tonnes short of its target, while Rajasthan is 5 lakh tonnes behind.

The real concern lies in Uttar Pradesh, where only about one-third of the targeted procurement has been achieved. Despite satisfactory wheat production in the state, farmers appear reluctant to sell at government procurement centers. Instead,

they seem more inclined to sell their produce to private buyers offering rates above the minimum support price (MSP), or to retain their stock in hopes of securing higher prices in the future.