Record-Breaking Wheat Procurement in India

India's wheat procurement has achieved a remarkable milestone, reaching 28.66 million tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing year, surpassing last year's figures ahead of the target deadline. This marks the highest procurement since the 2022-23 marketing year, driven by an anticipated record wheat output of 115.3 million tonnes this season.

Comparative Analysis and Procurement Process

Compared to the 26.59 million tonnes procured in the 2024-25 marketing year, this year's figures show significant growth. The procurement, conducted by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies, is carried out at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the central pool, primarily within the first three months of the marketing year from April to March.

State-Wise Procurement Highlights

All five major wheat-procuring states—Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—have reported higher procurement numbers than last year. Punjab leads with 11.57 million tonnes, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 7.40 million tonnes, Haryana at 7.01 million tonnes, and Rajasthan at 1.64 million tonnes.

Financial Benefits and Harvesting Status

MSP payments totaling Rs 62,346.23 crore have been disbursed, benefiting approximately 2.27 million farmers. While wheat harvesting has concluded in several states, partial harvesting continues in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

Current Status and Future Targets

Despite the positive trends, the current procurement is slightly below the 31.2 million tonnes target set for the 2025-26 marketing year, indicating room for further growth.