India lowers rice procurement target, to buy 46.35 million tonne in 2025-26

The Indian government has fixed the rice procurement target at 46.35 million tonne (mt) from the crop grown during the current kharif season. It had purchased about 47.4 mt from the kharif 2024 crop against a target of 51.16 mt.

In a meeting with Food Secretaries of States and Union Territories on Monday, where officials from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) were also present, the Department of Food and Public Distribution discussed the arrangements for procurement of crops in the ensuing kharif marketing season (KMS) 2025-26, which will commence from October.

“During the meeting, the estimates for paddy procurement (kharif Crop) were fixed at 46.35 million tonne in terms of rice,” the Food Ministry said in a statement. The target of procurement for coarse grains /millets (Shree Anna) have been fixed at 1.92 mt during the ensuing KMS 2025-26, it said.

States told to focus on millets

The government has been finding it difficult to dispose of the excess stock of rice as it requires 41 mt annually for its different schemes. Total rice procurement from both kharif and rabi seasons was reported to be 54.52 mt in the 11 months period between October 2024 and August 2025, whereas the target was to buy 58.48 mt by in the entire 2024-25 season.

States have been advised to focus on procurement of millets for diversification of crops and enhanced nutrition in dietary patterns, the government said. There were no details about ho much quantity to be bought from which state.

Sources said that the procurement estimate may be revised once the production estimate is released by the agriculture ministry as many parts of the country have been affected due to excessive rainfall and floods, which have damaged paddy crop. For instance, Punjab, which contributed highest 11.61 mt of rice to the Central Pool in 2024-25, may not be able to procure same quantity due to crop damage, the sources said.

Besides, the India Meteorological Department has also predicted higher than above normal rainfall in some rice growing areas of Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Haryana during September.

Published on September 1, 2025

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