Sun Mar 22 08:07:11 UTC 2026: ### India’s Food Procurement Faces Scrutiny as Shortfalls Persist

The Story:
A parliamentary standing committee, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, has expressed serious concerns regarding the consistent shortfall in rice and wheat procurement in India. The committee’s report, released on March 22, 2026, highlights that actual procurement has remained below estimates in recent years and below targets in key states like Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. The committee is urging the Union Food Ministry to strengthen its procurement planning and coordination with states to address the widening gap between estimated and actual procurement of these essential food grains.

Key Points:

  • The report indicates that since 2022-23, procurement of wheat and rice has been less than 30% of total production.
  • Actual wheat procurement was 76.71%, 71.35%, and 87.29% of the estimate for 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 respectively.
  • During the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) of 2024-25, rice procurement from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab fell short of targets.
  • The government cited factors like production fluctuations, market surplus, Minimum Support Price (MSP), and private trader participation as reasons for the variations.
  • The committee has asked the government to review its estimation methodology, enhance real-time monitoring, and work closely with states to improve procurement operations.

Key Takeaways:

  • India’s food security apparatus is facing challenges due to consistent under-procurement of essential grains.
  • The discrepancy between estimated and actual procurement highlights potential issues with forecasting and coordination.
  • The government needs to improve its procurement strategies to ensure adequate food reserves and support for farmers.
  • State-level coordination is crucial to address the specific challenges faced in different regions.
  • The committee’s recommendations signal a need for immediate corrective measures to ensure a more robust and responsive procurement system.

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