Govt has procured over 290 lakh tons of wheat so far: Pralhad Joshi

New Delhi: Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday that the government has procured more than 290 lakh tonnes of wheat so far this year.

“We have procured more than 290 lakh tonnes of wheat so far. Procurement operations are still undergoing. We may reach the figure of 320-325 lakh tonnes,” Joshi told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here.

The government had set a wheat procurement target of 312 lakh tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing year, but the rise is expected due to record production.

Total wheat purchase stood at 265.9 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 marketing year (April-March). The bulk of procurement takes place during the April-June period.

India is estimated to have harvested a record wheat crop of 115.3 million tonnes in the 2024-25 crop year (July-June).

Asked about allowing wheat exports, Joshi said he would consult other ministries on the issue after assessing the stock situation once the procurement season ends.

The state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies procure wheat at a minimum support price (MSP) for the central pool.

Wheat harvesting has been fully completed in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, with partial harvesting remaining in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. 

Joshi also launched three major digital initiatives — the Depot Darpan Portal, and digital platforms Anna Mitra and Anna Sahayata — as part of the government's efforts to transform the Public Distribution System (PDS) through technology use. 

In his address after the launch, Joshi said over 81 crore individuals receive free foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. 

He also said the Central government would invest around Rs 1,280 crore to upgrade the infrastructure of existing godowns of the FCI and Central Warehousing Corporation.

The government was using the latest technologies to bring transparency, improve efficiencies, and curb leakages in the PDS, he said, adding that the overall objective was to supply quality foodgrains to over 80 crore people through the ration shops under the National Food Security Act.