The government has procured 19.31 lakh tonnes (LT) of wheat from farmers in the current marketing year so far. The government has fixed wheat procurement target at 320 LT for 2018-19 marketing year, as against 308 LT purchased by state-owned FCI last year.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies undertake purchase at the minimum support price (MSP) on behalf of the government. Much of the procurement is happening in states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh at present, as arrival of fresh wheat is in full swing. The procurement is expected to pick up in Punjab in the coming months.
The government in the second estimate released in February had projected wheat production to be slightly lower at 971 LT for this year, as against a record 985.1 LT last year.