Wheat Procurement in Punjab Nears 111 Lakh Tonnes

01-May-2025 04:24 PM

Chandigarh. The wheat procurement in Punjab has reached close to 111 lakh tonnes, according to a statement made by the state’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister. So far, approximately 114 lakh tonnes of wheat have arrived in the state’s mandis, of which 111 lakh tonnes have been procured by government agencies and private traders.

Of the total procurement, government agencies alone have purchased over 103 lakh tonnes, marking a significant milestone in this year’s procurement drive. In return, the state government is transferring ₹22,815 crore directly into the bank accounts of farmers to ensure timely payments.

As of April 30, 6,28,674 farmers have sold their wheat across various mandis and procurement centers in Punjab. The lifting process is also proceeding rapidly, with more than 47.37 lakh tonnes of wheat already transported from procurement centers to storage facilities.

To ensure smooth and uninterrupted procurement operations, the government has set up 2,885 procurement centers across the state, including 1,021 temporary centers to handle the high volume of arrivals.

Punjab, the leading contributor of food grains to the central pool, has set a target of procuring 124 lakh tonnes of wheat during the current season, with May 15 as the deadline for procurement.

Officials had earlier estimated that about 125 lakh tonnes of wheat would arrive in Punjab’s mandis this year.

This season, the private sector — including traders, stockists, flour millers, and large food companies — is also actively participating in wheat procurement in Punjab.

In previous years, processors from Punjab sourced a substantial quantity of wheat from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, but this year, due to higher prices in those states, they are focusing more on local procurement.