Pvt sector purchases surge as wheat procurement nears end

Farmers reap benefit, get more than MSP; state govt falls short of 124-lakh tonne target set by Centre

- Gurpreet Singh Nibber

CHANDIGARH: The wheat procurement season for the current rabi season in Punjab is nearing its end, with a record-breaking surge in private sector purchases.

Till now, a total of 128.25 lakh tonnes of wheat have arrived in state mandis, with government agencies purchasing 117.25 lakh tonnes. The remaining 11 lakh tonnes were bought by private traders, marking the highest level of private sector involvement since records began in the 1980s.

While the state government remains behind its procurement target of 124 lakh tonnes set by the Centre, the rise in private purchases has been seen as a positive development. The price paid by private traders has been above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,425 per quintal, with some areas like Sangrur and Patiala witnessing prices of up to ₹2,640 per quintal—₹200 higher than the MSP, said an official familiar with the matter.