New Delhi: India’s wheat procurement for the 2026-27 rabi marketing season has crossed 34 million tonnes (mt), marking a significant rise over last year and reinforcing the country’s food security reserves at a time of rising global uncertainty and inflationary pressures.
According to official data, government agencies had procured 34.2 mt of wheat from farmers as of 24 May, compared with 29.7 mt during the corresponding period last year. The procurement figure is also close to the Centre’s revised target of 34.5 mt for the ongoing marketing season, with operations still continuing in several states.
The increase comes despite concerns earlier this year over unseasonal rainfall in April, which had raised fears of delayed arrivals and potential disruptions to procurement activities. Strong arrivals from major wheat-producing states, however, helped maintain momentum and enabled procurement agencies to achieve higher volumes.
Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana emerged as the leading contributors to the procurement drive, together accounting for more than 30 mt of wheat purchased so far. Punjab remained the top contributor with approximately 12.16 mt procured by government agencies. Madhya Pradesh followed closely with 10.14 mt, while Haryana recorded procurement of 8.12 mt.
Among other states, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh contributed around 2.1 mt and 1.55 mt respectively till 24 May. Procurement operations in Punjab and Haryana have already concluded, while buying activities are still underway in several other states.
The rise in wheat procurement is being viewed as a crucial development for India’s food management system, especially as wheat remains one of the most important food grains under the public distribution network and the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Wheat accounts for nearly one-third of India’s total foodgrain procurement and plays a central role in ensuring subsidised food supply to millions of beneficiaries.
Government data showed that wheat stocks held by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies stood at 42.79 mt as of 30 April 2026. This is significantly higher than the prescribed buffer norm of 7.46 mt for the same period, giving the government considerable flexibility to manage domestic supply and stabilise prices if required.
Economists and food policy experts believe that stronger procurement and higher buffer stocks could help India tackle inflationary pressures arising from geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity markets. Concerns over the ongoing Iran conflict and its impact on global energy prices have already heightened fears of inflation across several economies.
Pronab Sen, former chief statistician of India, said stronger wheat reserves would not only help ensure domestic food security but could also improve India’s ability to respond to international demand if global supply chains face disruptions. He noted that higher procurement supports remunerative prices for farmers while strengthening the government’s capacity to manage food inflation.
Industry representatives also expressed optimism that the final procurement figures could surpass the current target. Navneet Chitlangia, president of the Roller Flour Millers’ Federation of India (RFMFI), said procurement operations are still in progress in multiple states and the government may move closer to or even exceed its target in the coming weeks.
State-level incentives also played a key role in boosting procurement. Madhya Pradesh announced a bonus of ₹40 per quintal over the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,585 per quintal, while Rajasthan offered a substantially higher bonus of ₹150 per quintal to encourage farmers to sell through official procurement channels.
Analysts said these additional incentives helped attract more farmers to government procurement centres, strengthening public grain stocks at a time when food inflation and supply management remain important policy priorities.
The procurement surge has also been supported by expectations of a record wheat harvest this year. The government has estimated wheat production for the 2026-27 rabi season at 120.21 mt, compared with 117.94 mt in the previous year.
In anticipation of higher output, the Centre revised procurement targets upward across several states. Madhya Pradesh’s target was increased from 7.8 mt to 10 mt, Uttar Pradesh’s from 1 mt to 2.5 mt, and Rajasthan’s from 2.1 mt to 2.35 mt. Procurement targets for Punjab and Haryana were fixed at 12.2 mt and 7.2 mt respectively.
With stocks remaining well above buffer requirements and procurement continuing steadily, the government is expected to enter the coming months with stronger food reserves, improving its ability to manage inflation, maintain stable supplies, and safeguard food security.
