FILE PHOTO: Workers sift wheat before filling in sacks at the market yard of the Agriculture Product Marketing Committee (APMC) on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, May 16, 2022. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo | Photo Credit: AMIT DAVE

The Indian Government’s wheat procurement has exceeded its revised target of 35.54 million tonnes (mt) by reaching at 35.76 mt as of June 21, up by 19 per cent from 29.95 mt in the corresponding period last year. While Rajasthan has set a record in procurement, Uttar Pradesh has bought more than double the quantity than last year.

The current year’s procurement target was revised twice from initial 30.3 mt to 34.5 mt in the last week of April and further enhanced in June after some states sought extension of purchase period amid farmers’ demand.

In 2025, the government had procured 30 mt of wheat, but expected higher purchases after the Agriculture Ministry estimated the production at a record 120.66 mt. According to the 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.

68% under relaxed norms

The procurement data show that out of 35.76 mt so far bought by the government, 24.25 mt (or nearly 68 per cent) are under relaxed quality specifications. The wheat at the the Central Pool stock, maintained by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), was at 53.41 mt as on June 1, against the buffer norm (as on July 1) of 27.5 mt and the current stock is highest since 2021 when it was over 60 mt.

According to the data, the purchase in Rajasthan has reached 2.71 mt against 2.11 mt a year ago and in Uttar Pradesh at 2.16 mt from 1.03 mt a year ago, data show. In Bihar, the procurement reached 40,364 tonne, more than double from 18,087 tonne a 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 2.85 mt and in Bihar from 18,000 tonne to 0.18 mt.

Extension sought in Rajasthan

Sources said that the Rajasthan government is under pressure from the Opposition as the state’s former chief minister Ashok Gehlot has sought extension of procurement, which ended on June 19, till June 30. “The Centre has no issue if the state government extends the procurement period,” an official source said.

The previous record in Rajasthan was 2.34 mt in 2021-22 when the wheat procurement from all States was an all time high of 43.34 mt.

The procurement in Punjab ended at 12.16 mt against 11.92 mt a 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 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.

Overcoming MP hurdles

In Madhya Pradesh, the Centre purchased 10.44 mt against 7.77 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 over 10 mt from 7.8 mt fixed earlier. Due to a delayed start and slow pace of purchase, which officials blamed on the 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.

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

Published on June 22, 2026