News Capsule: Punjab Wheat Procurement: Resumes, but Quality Remains a Concern
15-Apr-2026 09:46 AM
News Capsule: Punjab Wheat Procurement: Resumes, but Quality Remains a Concern
★ Wheat procurement in Punjab has resumed after a brief disruption, but concerns over crop quality continue. Procurement staff had earlier halted operations, alleging pressure to purchase high-moisture wheat that did not meet prescribed standards.
★ Following discussions with the state authorities, it has now been agreed that only wheat meeting the official quality norms will be procured at the MSP of ₹2,585 per quintal. Procurement of substandard or damaged wheat is still on hold, awaiting relaxation from the Centre.
★ This season, wheat arriving in mandis has shown significantly higher moisture levels, reportedly around 22%, well above the permissible 12%. Grain quality issues have further complicated procurement.
★ Arrivals so far have been slower than usual, with about 2.75 lakh tonnes reaching mandis, mainly due to delayed harvesting caused by unseasonal rains. Farmers are increasingly concerned about stock piling up in mandis if procurement does not pick up soon.
★ With temperatures rising, arrivals are expected to increase in the coming days, which may further strain the procurement system.