The government has set a conservative target for wheat procurement, ranging from 30 to 32 million tonnes for the 2024-25 rabi marketing season, as per the food ministry’s announcement.
This target is notably lower than the Ministry of Agriculture’s optimistic projection of a record wheat production between 114 to 115 million tonnes for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June).
Following discussions with state food secretaries in a meeting chaired by Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra in the national capital, the procurement target was finalized.
The ministry stated, “After deliberations, the estimates for wheat procurement during the ensuing rabi marketing season of 2024-25 were fixed in the range of 30-32 million tonnes.”
Additionally, the ministry has established a procurement target for rabi paddy in rice terms, ranging from 9 to 10 million tonnes. Furthermore, a procurement target of 600,000 tonnes has been set for rabi coarse grains/millets (Shri Anna).
During the meeting, states and Union Territories were urged by the Centre to prioritize millet procurement as part of efforts to diversify crops and enhance nutrition in dietary patterns.
In the previous season of 2023-24, the government procured approximately 26.2 million tonnes of wheat, falling short of the 34.15 million tonnes target. In the 2022-23 season, wheat procurement stood at 18.8 million tonnes, significantly below the target of 44.4 million tonnes, primarily due to a production decrease.
