Cut in government procurement target of rice

02-Sep-2025 01:36 PM

New Delhi. Despite the production area of ​​Kharif paddy jumping from 405.34 lakh hectares last year to the peak level of 431.96 lakh hectares this year, the Central Government has reduced the target of rice procurement to 463.50 lakh tonnes, which is about 47.40 lakh tonnes less than the target of 511.60 lakh tonnes set for the Kharif marketing season of 2024-25.

At the beginning of the current week i.e. on 1 September 2025, an important meeting of the Food Secretaries of all the states and union territories of the country was held in which officials of Food Corporation of India (FCI) were also present.

In this, the Department of Food and Public Distribution discussed the arrangements for the procurement of various crops in the upcoming Kharif marketing season. The new marketing season is going to start from 1 October.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Food, in this meeting, a target was set to procure paddy equivalent to 463.50 lakh tonnes of rice during the Kharif season. Along with this, a target was also set to procure 19.20 lakh tonnes of coarse grains / millets (Shri Ann).

In fact, there is a huge stock of rice in the central pool, which the government is facing great difficulty in disposing of. 410 lakh tonnes of rice is required annually for supply in various welfare schemes.

During the 11 months from October 2024 to August 2025, combining Kharif and Rabi seasons, the government procured paddy equivalent to 545.20 lakh tonnes of rice, while a target of procurement of 584.80 lakh tonnes was set for the entire marketing season of 2024-25.

Paddy crops have been damaged in some states, including Punjab. Last season, paddy equivalent to 116.10 lakh tonnes of rice was procured there, but this time the procurement may be somewhat less.

After the production estimate of paddy at the national level comes out, there may be some change in the time of purchase of rice.