Bhopal: After a steep 33% fall in wheat procurement last year, the state has made a strong comeback in 2024, not only meeting but exceeding its revised target. As of May 5, the total wheat procured stood at 76.10 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) — well above both the original target of 60 LMT and the revised target of 70 LMT set by the Union government, reports The Times of India.
Last year, the state managed to procure only 48 LMT of wheat. In contrast, this year’s recovery has been remarkable, signalling one of the best procurement seasons in recent years. In fact, this is the highest wheat procurement ever recorded in the state, sources said.
According to officials, wheat is being purchased at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,600 per quintal, which includes a bonus of ₹175 per quintal from the state government — making it one of the most attractive procurement prices in the country.
Anurag Verma, Managing Director of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, assured that the sudden pre-monsoon rains have not caused any major damage. “We are closely monitoring the wheat stocks. Most procurement centres are located at warehouses, so storage is safe and losses have been minimal,” he said.
The impressive procurement this year stands in stark contrast to recent years. The state had procured just 4.6 LMT in 2022 and 7.1 LMT in 2023. It had dipped further to 4.8 LMT earlier in 2024, before the latest procurement push reversed the trend. In comparison, the previous highs were 12.9 LMT in 2020 and 12.8 LMT in 2021, both of which now pale in comparison to this year’s performance.
Officials have not yet decided whether the procurement deadline will be extended beyond May 5. However, with the state already exceeding its target, the focus is now on safe storage and smooth transportation of the collected grain.
