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Informist, Monday, Apr. 21, 2025

 

By Afra Abubacker

 

NEW DELHI – The Food Corp. of India has procured 12.73 million tonnes of wheat as of Sunday, marking a 70.2% on-year surge, aided by better crop availability and an early start to procurement. The government has so far met 40.7% of its procurement target of 31.27 million tonnes for 2025-26 (Apr-Mar) amid strong buys in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, an FCI official said. The procurement window ends in June.

 

Government data reviewed by Informist shows that Madhya Pradesh is leading the procurement drive, having bought 4.72 million tonnes, or nearly 79% of its 6-million-tonne target. The state has seen an 81% jump in wheat purchases so far. Haryana follows closely with 4.71 million tonnes, up 26% on year, and achieving 62% of its 7.5-million-tonne target.

 

Officials say wheat procurement will likely exceed 28 million tonnes this year. In comparison, the Centre had procured 26.61 million tonnes last year against a target of 30–32 million tonnes. Procurement in 2024-25 was dented largely due to crop damage and weak arrivals in Madhya Pradesh, following unseasonal rains and high mandi prices.

 

Punjab, the traditional top contributor to central wheat stocks, has procured just 2.19 million tonnes, meeting only 17.7% of its 12.4-million-tonne target. However, procurement in the state has more than tripled year-on-year. The state's procurement window is set to close on May 15, adding pressure to ramp up procurement in the coming weeks, the FCI official said. 

 

Officials expect volumes to pick up as arrivals increase in the coming weeks. "Procurement pace picked up only after Baisakhi. It will catch up," the official said. Baisakhi, the harvest festival, was on Apr. 13.

 

Procurement this year has progressed well amid state bonuses over the minimum support price of INR 2,425 per 100 kg. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are offering bonuses of INR 175 and INR 150, respectively. Rajasthan has procured 674,501 tonnes so far, up 334% from the same time last year.

 

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, India's largest wheat-growing state, has procured only 431,875 tonnes, or 14.4% of its 3-million-tonne target. Procurement in the state typically remains low due to the strong presence of private traders in the market. According to the farm ministry, India's wheat output is projected to hit a record 115.4 million tonnes in 2024-25 (Jul-Jun), up from 113.3 million tonnes a year ago. End

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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