Wheat Procurement for Central Pool Rises to 184 Lakh Tonnes

25-Apr-2025 12:03 PM

New Delhi. Government procurement of wheat has seen a significant surge this year, with total purchases by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies reaching 183.92 lakh tonnes as of April 23, 2025. This marks a sharp increase from 119.26 lakh tonnes during the same period last year.

The rise in procurement is being driven by falling mandi prices and additional bonuses offered in key producing states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, prompting more farmers to sell their wheat to government agencies. Payments are also being made within 48 hours, while the pace of lifting stock from procurement centers has picked up.

State-wise procurement figures have improved across the board:

• Punjab: 59.28 lakh tonnes (up from 35 lakh tonnes)

• Haryana: 56.64 lakh tonnes (up from 48.14 lakh tonnes)

• Madhya Pradesh: 54.09 lakh tonnes (up from 29.71 lakh tonnes)

• Uttar Pradesh: 5.57 lakh tonnes (up from 4.06 lakh tonnes)

• Rajasthan: 3.20 lakh tonnes (up from 2.32 lakh tonnes)

• Bihar: 10,000 tonnes (up from 4,000 tonnes)

Procurement is also ongoing in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

For the 2025 Rabi marketing season, the Union Food Ministry has set a target of 312.70 lakh tonnes, broken down as follows:

• Punjab: 124 lakh tonnes

• Haryana: 75 lakh tonnes

• Madhya Pradesh: 60 lakh tonnes

• Uttar Pradesh: 30 lakh tonnes

• Rajasthan: 20 lakh tonnes

• Bihar: 2 lakh tonnes

• Gujarat: 1 lakh tonne

• Uttarakhand: 50,000 tonnes

• Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir: 10,000 tonnes each

The procurement timelines are:

• Punjab and Haryana: until May 15

• Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand: until June 30

• Bihar: until June 15

• Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir: until May 31

• Himachal Pradesh: until June 15

With Madhya Pradesh nearing its target and procurement still underway in other states, officials are optimistic about meeting the national procurement goal.