Wheat stocks likely to rise further as procurement continues in Rajasthan

18-Jun-2026 12:04 PM

New Delhi. Wheat stocks in the central pool have already risen to their highest level since 2021, and a further increase is expected as the procurement process continues in Rajasthan.

Government wheat procurement in the current Rabi marketing season has reached 35.7 million tonnes (357 lakh tonnes), compared to around 30 million tonnes (300 lakh tonnes) during the same period last year.

Government procurement of wheat has largely concluded in all major producing states, with the exception of Rajasthan. This season, procurement exceeded the set targets in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, whereas it fell slightly short of the targets in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

At the national level, the Ministry of Food had set a procurement target of approximately 34.6 million tonnes, but actual procurement has surpassed this by 1.1 million tonnes.

However, wheat of 'relaxed quality specifications'—characterized by a lack of luster, discoloration, or shriveled and broken grains—accounts for 68 percent (24.2 million tonnes) of the total 35.7 million tonnes procured; consequently, the government faces pressure to dispose of this stock as quickly as possible.

Notably, the protein content in this wheat remains unaffected, and its poor appearance is merely superficial. In Rajasthan, over 2.6 million tonnes of wheat have been procured against a target of 2.35 million tonnes, marking a 27 percent increase compared to the previous year.