Lucknow: Wheat procurement in UP has registered a sharp dip of around 23% in the ongoing rabi marketing season, thanks to the unseasonal rains and hailstorms that hit the state in March, leading to lower arrival of crop in mandis, impacting the procurement process.According to the data of the Food and Civil Supplies department (updated till April 26), wheat procurement in the state was to the tune of 4.96 lakh MT, which was significantly less than 6.43 lakh MT procured during the corresponding period last year.The govt was in the process of procuring wheat through 5,649 centres set up by as many as eight agencies, including Mandi Parishad, Food Corporation of India (FCI), UP Cooperative Federation, National Consumer Cooperative Federation (NCCF), Marketing Division of Food and Civil Supply (FCS), Pradeshik Cooperative Federation (PCF), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), UP Cooperative Union (UPCU) and UP Sahkari Sangh (UPSS).Data show that the number of farmers arriving at the various procurement centres plunged from 116,735 in 2025-26 to 93,063 this year, a decrease of a little over 20%. NCCF registered the sharpest decline of 88% in the arrival of farmers. Likewise, Mandi Parishad and PCF too have witnessed a fall of 62% and 34%, respectively.The situation comes amid CM Yogi Adityanath relaxing the quality norms for the rabi marketing season to boost procurement. As per the govt’s decision, the permissible limit for wheat with lustre loss (reduced shine) has been increased to 70%. Similarly, the limit for shrivelled and broken grains, which was earlier 6%, has now been raised to 20%. Officials said that this will ensure that farmers’ wheat is procured despite quality deterioration caused by rainfall.Wheat procured under relaxed norms will be stored separately from standard wheat, with a distinct accounting system. The stock will be utilised only within Uttar Pradesh to ensure proper quality management.Last week, the state govt clarified that it will take the responsibility for any further decline in quality during storage of such wheat.As a matter of fact, wheat procurement is reported to have declined nationally by around 40%, essentially due to delayed procurement start in MP and lower arrival in UP and Rajasthan. Punjab and Haryana, however, are reported to have shown improved buying trends.Not surprisingly, lower procurement can potentially tighten the buffer stocks locally. At the same time, the govt may face higher costs in case of storage inefficiencies.Experts said that the issue of wheat procurement happens to be politically sensitive in the case of UP, where assembly elections are due early next year. Any perception of farmer distress can influence rural sentiments, eventually affecting the electoral outcomes.
