The government has set a conservative wheat procurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2025-26 rabi marketing season, according to sources. This target is set despite the Agriculture Ministry's aim for a record wheat production of 115 million tonnes in the 2024-25 crop year (July-June). For the upcoming 2025-26 rabi marketing season starting in April, the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat has been fixed at ₹2,425 per quintal. The procurement target was determined after discussions with state food secretaries, the sources noted. Wheat procurement is carried out by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies to ensure that farmers receive the MSP and to meet the requirements of welfare schemes. In the 2024-25 season, government wheat procurement reached 26.6 million tonnes, falling short of the target of 30-32 million tonnes. However, it was higher than the 26.2 million tonnes procured in the 2023-24 season, though it did not meet the 34.15 million tonne target for that year. Wheat procurement in the 2022-23 season was much lower at just 18.8 million tonnes, significantly under the target of 44.4 million tonnes. Wheat sowing is nearly complete in many states, covering 31.9 million hectares, and the current crop conditions are reported to be favorable.