NEW DELHI — The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, headed by senior DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, has expressed serious concern over the consistent shortfall in national food grain procurement. In a report released on March 22, 2026, the panel urged the Union Food Ministry to overhaul its coordination with states to bridge the gap between estimated and actual procurement.
Procurement Shortfalls and Targets
The committee’s report on the Demands for Grants highlighted a widening disparity in the procurement of essential staples:
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Wheat Gaps: Actual wheat procurement has struggled to meet estimates, reaching only 76.71% in 2023-24, 71.35% in 2024-25, and 87.29% in the 2025-26 period.
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Rice Trends: Similarly, rice procurement has consistently remained below target since the 2022-23 cycle.
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Production Ratio: The panel noted that since 2022, total procurement for both grains has fallen below 30% of India’s total production.
Regional Challenges
The report specifically identified key agricultural states where procurement has lagged significantly behind targets:
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Underperforming States: Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.
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Panel Recommendations: The committee has asked the Ministry to strengthen procurement planning and improve logistics to ensure that farmers in these regions have better access to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism.
Food Security Implications
The panel emphasized that these consistent shortfalls could impact the buffer stock required for the National Food Security Act (NFSA). It called for a more robust data-sharing model between the Center and States to ensure that procurement estimates are realistic and achievable.
