India is set to witness record wheat production this year. The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated 115.43 million tonnes of wheat output, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has gone a step further, predicting an all-time high of 117 million tonnes. Despite this, government procurement of wheat is once again falling short of the target � marking the fourth consecutive year this has happened. How Much Wheat Has Been Procured So Far? This year, the government set a procurement target of 33.27 million tonnes. However, only about 29.6 million tonnes have been procured so far. In previous years too, the numbers were below target: 26.6 million tonnes in 2024, 26.2 million tonnes in 2023, and just 18.8 million tonnes in 2022. Private Buyers Offering Better Prices to Farmers Earlier, farmers used to sell most of their wheat to government agencies. But this time, things have changed. Private players � including flour mills, traders, and stockists � have actively bought wheat directly from farmers. They�ve offered prices higher than the government�s Minimum Support Price (MSP), which gave farmers better earnings and led many to prefer private sales over government procurement. Government Stock is Healthy, But Cautious Approach Expected The government currently has enough wheat stock in its storage, so there�s no immediate concern about food security. However, it is unlikely to rush into selling wheat under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). Instead, it may encourage private players to release their stock in the market. If wheat prices continue to rise, the government might consider imposing stock limits to control hoarding and price inflation. Wheat Arrivals and Price Movement in Mandis Wheat arrivals have increased in major producing states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Due to strong demand from flour mills and private traders, wheat prices rose by ₹30�40 this week to reach ₹2720�2730 per quintal. However, with temperatures rising, more wheat will enter the market, which could limit further price increases. Still, short-term fluctuations are possible due to weather changes. Even with record wheat production, government procurement is lagging as more farmers are choosing private buyers for better prices. The government will need to keep a close eye on the market and prices to ensure food availability and price stability for the public.