The Indian government’s wheat procurement during the ongoing season has reached 34.99 million tonnes (mt) as of May 31, up by 17 per cent from 29.82 mt in the corresponding period a year ago. The current procurement, made by the Food Corporation of India for buffer stocks, has exceeded the target of 34.5 mt set by the government. It was initially fixed at 30.3 mt but increased in the last week of April, following demand from the States.

In 2025, the government had procured 30 mt of wheat, but it expected higher purchases after the Agriculture Ministry estimated the production at a record high of 120.21 mt.

Last week, the Agriculture Ministry has further enhanced the wheat output estimate to 120.66 mt, notwithstanding localised damage caused due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms. According to government’s third advance estimates of agriculture crops, the current projection of wheat production is higher by 2.3 per cent from 117.94 mt in 2024-25.

Relaxed quality norms

But, the procurement data show that out of 34.99 mt so far bought by the government, 23.63 mt (or over 67 per cent) are under relaxed quality specifications.

C Shikha, joint secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, on Monday said that with 35 mt of wheat procurement this year, the Central Pool stock, maintained by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) now stands at 51.3 mt against the buffer norm (as on July 1) of 27.5 mt.

According to the data, the procurement in Punjab ended at 12.16 mt as against 11.92 mt year-ago, up by 2 per cent. The Centre had fixed a target to procure 12.2 mt wheat from Punjab in 2026-27, as 11.92 mt was bought in the entire 2025-26. Notably, almost the entire quantity in the current year’s purchase in Punjab was under relaxed quality, due to widespread lustre loss in several districts due following unseasonal rains and hailstorms.

Up 34% in M.P.

In Haryana, the Centre has purchased nearly 8.12 mt of wheat against 7.08 mt a year ago as the procurement ended on May 15 after an early start, and it is higher than the target of 7.2 mt. In 2025-26, the Centre had bought 7.14 mt of wheat from Haryana.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Centre has purchased 10.44 mt against 7.78 mt a year ago, up by 34 per cent. In the last week of April, the Centre accepted the state’s request and revised the target to 10 mt from the earlier fixed 7.8 mt.

Due to a delayed start and slow pace of purchase, which officials blamed on non-preparedness of agencies with inadequate gunny bags and purchase centres, the target was looking impossible. But, with consistent pressure from Opposition and farmer organisations, the government managed to exceeded the target.

The procurement in Madhya Pradesh was lower by 59 per cent until April 30 despite the state was allowed by the Centre to buy the crop from farmers from March 15, against normal schedule of April 1.

The purchase in Uttar Pradesh has reached 1.72 mt against 1.03 mt and in Rajasthan at 2.43 mt from 1.98 mt year-ago, the data show. In Bihar, the procurement has reached 36,285 tonne, more than double from 17,923 tonne year-ago. The Centre had also raised the purchase target in Uttar Pradesh from earlier 1 mt to 2.5 mt, in Rajasthan from 2.1 mt to 2.35 mt and in Bihar from 18,000 tonne to 0.18 mt.

Published on June 1, 2026