Government procurement of wheat in the current Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26 has crossed 250 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, a total of 256.31 LMT wheat has already been procured by April 30, surpassing last year’s figure of 205.41 LMT for the same date. This marks a 24.78% increase and indicates a successful ongoing procurement drive.
So far, around 21.03 lakh farmers have benefited from the wheat procurement process, receiving a total Minimum Support Price (MSP) payment of Rs 62,155.96 crore. Major contributions came from the five key procuring states—Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Punjab leads in procurement with 103.89 LMT of wheat procured, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 67.57 LMT, Haryana at 65.67 LMT, Rajasthan at 11.44 LMT, and Uttar Pradesh at 7.55 LMT.
The success of this year’s procurement is credited to the proactive measures taken by the Department of Food and Public Distribution. These included state-specific action plans, early awareness campaigns among farmers, timely registration, proper functioning of procurement centers, and quick MSP payments—often processed within 24 to 48 hours. Officials conducted regular reviews and field visits to address challenges on the ground and ensure smooth operations.
Additionally, strategic decisions like imposing stockholding limits via the wheat stock portal and granting timely relaxations on FAQ norms also helped maintain the pace of procurement.
With more time left in the RMS 2025-26 season, the country is expected to exceed the estimated target of 312 LMT by a considerable margin.
