Wheat procurement in India for the 2026-27 rabi marketing season has seen a 16% decline compared to the previous year, primarily due to sluggish procurement in Madhya Pradesh. As of April 20, the country has procured 114.29 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, which is about 38% of the target of 303 lakh metric tonnes. Madhya Pradesh, being the second-largest contributor to the Central pool, has reported only 7.25 lakh metric tonnes procured against an arrival of 15.66 lakh metric tonnes, marking an 85% decrease from the previous year. In contrast, Punjab and Haryana have performed better, with procurement rates of 91% and 70% of total arrivals, respectively. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has emphasized the need to resolve procurement-related issues swiftly to assist farmers. Similar challenges are observed in Uttar Pradesh, where procurement has also lagged, with only 2.74 lakh metric tonnes reported so far. The overall wheat acreage has increased this year, indicating potential for higher production, estimated at 120 million metric tonnes.