Global Forces Drive Wheat Boom in Madhya Pradesh

This year’s wheat procurement in Madhya Pradesh tells a bigger story. It’s not just about how much grain the state collected. It’s about how farmers responded to government prices, open markets, and global disruptions.

Wheat procurement in Madhya Pradesh started on March 15, 2025, and wrapped up by mid-May. The state set up 3,475 collection centres. Farmers received Rs 2,600 per quintal, which included a Rs 175 bonus on top of the central government’s Minimum Support Price of Rs 2,425. By the end, the state had procured 77.74 lakh metric tonnes of wheat. Over 8.7 lakh farmers sold their crop. The state paid out Rs 18,842 crore directly into farmers' bank accounts.

A Steep Jump From Last Year

Procurement nearly doubled. In 2023–24, the state bought 40 lakh metric tonnes from 5.85 lakh farmers. This year, it collected 77.74 lakh metric tonnes from 8.76 lakh farmers. That’s a 94% jump in quantity and over 50% more farmers selling to the government.

According to a recent PIB report, most of India’s wheat this year came from five key states: Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh stood third in total procurement. It already produces about 25% of India’s wheat and is closing the gap with top states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Government procurement of wheat during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025–26 has reached 256.31 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) by April 30, marking a 24.78% increase over the same period last year. Around 21.03 lakh farmers have benefited so far, receiving Rs 62,155.96 crore in MSP payments.

This year’s jump in wheat procurement in Madhya Pradesh didn’t happen on its own. It shows how local policies and global events shape farmers' decisions. The state offered a bonus. The government raised support prices. But what happened outside India mattered just as much.

In the past four years, farmers in Madhya Pradesh have kept changing their selling choices. Sometimes, they choose government centres. Other times, they turned to private buyers. These shifts didn’t just come from weather or local markets, they followed global changes.

When war disrupts the world’s grain routes, wheat farmers in Madhya Pradesh feel it. Over the past four years, their decisions to sell to the government or turn to the open market have shifted sharply, not because of local conditions, but because of global ones. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, especially the blockade of the Black Sea corridor, has kept international wheat prices unstable. That volatility has trickled down to procurement centres in places like Ujjain, Sehore, and Vidisha.

In 2022–23, around 5.91 lakh farmers sold 46.04 lakh metric tonnes of wheat to the government. The number jumped in 2023–24 when 7.96 lakh farmers sold 70.94 lakh metric tonnes. The government, worried about low stock, announced a bonus to attract more farmers. 

Wheat and War 

That trend didn’t last. In 2024, as Russia again blocked the Black Sea grain route, global wheat prices rose. Farmers responded by shifting back to the open market, reducing participation in government procurement. In 2024–25, only 6.16 lakh farmers sold 48.38 lakh metric tonnes at MSP. Still, the government projects a sharp rise in the coming year, estimating 9 lakh farmers and 77.75 lakh metric tonnes in 2025–26.

In May 2022, the Indian government banned wheat exports. The move came after extreme heat damaged crops and disrupted yields across major producing states. At the same time, the Russia-Ukraine war had created strong international demand. Farmers began selling to private traders instead of at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), weakening the government's ability to build stock. The export ban was meant to stabilise supply and curb hoarding. Despite that, procurement dipped.

Some districts saw record wheat purchases this year. Ujjain led with 6.75 lakh metric tonnes from 75,000 farmers. Sehore followed with 6.32 lakh metric tonnes from 72,000 farmers. Vidisha reported 5.49 lakh metric tonnes from 54,000 farmers. Raisen also crossed 5.49 lakh metric tonnes, while 35,000 farmers in Narmadapuram sold 3.83 lakh metric tonnes at MSP.

Many of these districts grow premium wheat varieties like Sharbati and Durum. These are mostly cultivated in Sehore, Ujjain, Narmadapuram, Harda, Raisen, and Dewas. Sharbati, in particular, is in high demand for its quality and protein content, making it attractive both to traders and the public distribution system.

Madhya Pradesh produces about 21% of India’s wheat. In 2023–24, it came close to matching Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in how much wheat it sold to the government. More farmers in MP chose to sell at MSP centers. That helped boost overall procurement. MP also stands out for its premium wheat varieties like Sharbati and Durum. These varieties are in high demand in Indian cities and some export markets.  

Other districts saw little to no wheat procurement. Burhanpur and Barwani recorded no wheat purchases at all this year. Though 150 farmers registered in each district, none sold at government centers. They chose the open market instead. 

In smaller districts, the volumes were modest. Ten farmers in Pandhurna sold 83 metric tonnes, and farmers in Alirajpur sold 266 metric tonnes at MSP.

The bigger picture

Globally, wheat use in the 2024–25 marketing year is expected to reach 794 million tonnes, slightly below last year’s record. Global wheat trade is projected at 198 million tonnes, a 1.2 percent drop from 2023–24. In contrast, India is on track for record wheat production at 117.50 million tonnes.

Madhya Pradesh’s procurement success feeds into India’s larger foodgrain goal of 354 million tonnes for 2025–26. With a wheat production target of 117.4 million tonnes, strong performance by states like MP becomes crucial. Government support through better MSP rates and active procurement systems has helped stabilise supply at a time of global volatility.

From 2020 onward, India’s wheat production has shown steady fluctuations. In 2020, the country produced 107.86 million tonnes, growing by 4.11 percent from the previous year. Production rose slightly to 109.59 million tonnes in 2021, marking a 1.6 percent increase. 

However, 2022 saw a decline to 104 million tonnes, a drop of 5.1 percent due to adverse conditions. Production rebounded sharply in 2023 to 110.55 million tonnes, growing 6.3 percent. The projected output for 2024 is 113.29 million tonnes, signalling a 2.48 percent increase. This trend reflects India’s resilience and gradual recovery in wheat production amid challenges. 

Madhya Pradesh's wheat boom reflects more than strong production. It shows how farmers respond to prices, bonuses, and global events like war and trade shifts. Higher MSP, timely procurement, and direct payments made a difference. Districts growing premium wheat saw strong sales. Others turned to private buyers. Global instability pushed some farmers to open markets, but many returned when state support improved. As India targets record foodgrain output, Madhya Pradesh’s role is growing. What happens in its wheat fields now shapes the country’s grain future.

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