Thursday, June 4, 2026 –
On a more constructive economic note, government wheat procurement rose 17% to over 35 million tonnes in the 2026-27 rabi season, beating the 34.5 MT target and last year’s 30 MT, aided by mandi rates ruling below the Minimum Support Price and a record national production of 120.65 MT, with Punjab and Madhya Pradesh leading the charge.
The bumper procurement gives India a comfortable buffer for its public distribution system and National Food Security commitments. Analysts, however, note that geographic concentration remains a structural concern — over-dependence on Punjab and Madhya Pradesh stresses groundwater resources and soil health. Policy attention must now shift to drawing eastern and central India more fully into the procurement network if this success is to prove durable. With food inflation a persistent concern globally, India’s ability to stock its granaries at scale is being watched closely by its neighbours and trading partners alike.
