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Informist, Tuesday, Apr. 15, 2025

--Source: FCI buys 6 mln tn wheat, over 19% of total 2025-26 target

--CONTEXT: Govt's wheat procurement target for FY26 31.27 million tonnes

By Pallavi Singhal

NEW DELHI – Wheat purchases by the Food Corp. of India in the 2025-26 (Apr-Mar) rabi marketing season so far have doubled on year to over 6 million tonnes, according to a department official. As of now, FCI has bought over 19% of the FY26 target. The government has set a target to procure 31.27 million tonnes wheat in FY26. 

FCI officials attribute the sharp rise to higher wheat output, an early start to procurement, and state-level bonuses over the minimum support price announced by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Procurement began last month in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh--earlier than the usual April start.

The centre, this season, is leaving no stone unturned to procure wheat and fill its granaries. It first hiked the minimum support price of wheat by INR 150 to INR 2,425 per 100 kg. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan went further, announcing additional bonuses of INR 175 and INR 150, respectively, incentivising farmers to sell more to government agencies. These bonuses come in addition to the MSP.

This comes after three years of low wheat procurement. After a record procurement of 43.3 million tonnes in 2021-22, the government procurement dropped to 18.8 million tonnes in 2022-23, against a target of 44.4 million tonnes due to lower production. The government's procurement was lower over the next two years as well--26.2 million tonnes in 2023-24 and 26.6 million tonnes in 2024-25. 

The government's latest acreage data shows, farmers in the country sowed wheat across 32.5 million hectares, up 2.2%, in 2024-25 (Jul-Jun). Wheat production is estimated to rise to a record 115.4 million tonnes in 2024-25 from 113.2 million tonnes in the previous year, according to the agriculture ministry.  End

Edited by Subhojit Sarkar

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