Government Procurement of Wheat Falls Far Short of Arrivals

22-Apr-2026 05:14 PM

New Delhi. During the last week of March and the first week of April, unseasonal rains accompanied by strong winds—and hailstorms in some areas—not only damaged the wheat crop but also hindered harvesting and preparation activities. Consequently, by April 20, 2026, a total of 157.88 lakh tonnes of wheat had arrived at *mandis* (wholesale markets) and government procurement centers; of this, 114.29 lakh tonnes was procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state-level agencies.

By the same date last year, wheat arrivals had stood at 194.16 lakh tonnes, of which government agencies had procured 135.52 lakh tonnes. Thus, both the total arrival of wheat and government procurement are currently lagging significantly behind last year's figures.

Regarding procurement for the Central Pool, figures for this year—compared to last year—show a surge in Punjab from 29.88 lakh tonnes to 46.28 lakh tonnes, and in Haryana from 47.08 lakh tonnes to 53.70 lakh tonnes. However, in Uttar Pradesh, procurement dropped from 4.54 lakh tonnes to 2.75 lakh tonnes; in Madhya Pradesh, it plummeted from 47.15 lakh tonnes to 7.26 lakh tonnes; and in Rajasthan, it declined from 6.75 lakh tonnes to stagnate at 4.01 lakh tonnes.

It is noteworthy that these five states collectively contribute over 95 percent of the wheat procured for the Central Pool. Although government procurement of wheat also takes place in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Jammu & Kashmir, the volumes involved in these regions remain limited.

The Union Ministry of Food has set a procurement target of 303.37 lakh tonnes of wheat for the current year. This target includes specific goals of 122 lakh tonnes for Punjab, 78 lakh tonnes for Madhya Pradesh, 72 lakh tonnes for Haryana, 21 lakh tonnes for Rajasthan, and 10 lakh tonnes for Uttar Pradesh. The pace of wheat procurement is expected to accelerate in the coming days.