Procured Wheat Stocks in Punjab at Risk from Storms and Rain

04-May-2026 01:54 PM

Chandigarh: In Punjab—the state contributing the highest share of food grains to the Central Pool—a significant increase in government wheat procurement has been observed during the current Rabi marketing season compared to the previous year; however, the pace of lifting (evacuation) of these stocks from procurement centers remains slow. Since the morning of May 3, a spell of storms and rain has commenced across various parts of Punjab,

with similar weather conditions expected to persist on May 4 and 5. Consequently, there are apprehensions that both the standing crops in the fields and the procured wheat stocks lying at the procurement centers could suffer damage. This season, 1,872 procurement centers have been opened across Punjab for wheat procurement, a process that is scheduled to continue until May 15.

In light of the potential damage resulting from this natural calamity, the Food and Civil Supplies Department has expressed growing concern. It is pertinent to note that during late March and early April, unseasonal rains and storms had already damaged the wheat crop in several regions of the state, compelling the Central Government to grant relaxations in the quality specifications and procurement norms for wheat in the affected areas.

The current natural calamity poses a significant threat as well, as it could inflict substantial damage upon the wheat stocks currently awaiting evacuation at the procurement centers. Meanwhile, the wheat crop in the fields has reached maturity and is ready for harvest; this crop, too, stands to suffer damage from the storms and rain.

Reports of heavy rainfall are being received from districts such as Jalandhar, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, and Moga. Accompanied by strong winds, this rainfall is causing damage to the wheat stocks stored in the *mandis* (grain markets). Approximately 5.8 million tonnes of wheat stocks are currently present in these *mandis*, awaiting evacuation. For the current season, a target of 12.2 million tonnes has been set for government wheat procurement in Punjab.