Despite missing purchase goal, Centre's wheat stocks better than last year

But with the Covid-era free food grain schemes rolled back, the stock position may be more comfortable, even as exports have been banned

India’s wheat procurement in the 2023-24 marketing season, which started in April, will in all likelihood be lower than the estimated 34.1 million tonnes (MT) and could end below 28 MT owing to heightened private purchases in some major growing areas of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana to some extent, together with a drop in production due to relentless rains in March and early April this year.

But though procurement may be less than this year’s estimate, it will still be significantly higher than the multi-year low of almost 19 MT of wheat procured last year. In other words,