New Delhi: The government has increased the wheat procurement target to 34.5 million tonnes (MT), about 15% more than the target set for the current Rabi marketing season. This comes amid indications that more farmers may choose to sell their produce to the government at MSP as mandi prices are lower.Recently, the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar sought to increase wheat procurement from the Centre. While the government usually revises the targets near the end of the procurement period, this year the decision was taken early. The government on Friday urged flour mills to buy wheat directly from the market instead of relying on Food Corporation of India (FCI) sales.The government has so far purchased 16.4 metric tonnes of wheat in the current procurement season.The all-India average mandi price of wheat on April 22 was Rs 2,572, against the MSP of Rs 2,585 per quintal. The average farmgate price in UP was Rs 2,439 per quintal and in MP it was Rs 2,416.At the release of the “Annual Wheat Survey Report 2026” prepared by the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said that on the request of the state governments, in MP (7.8 MT to 10 MT), UP (1 MT to 2.5 MT), Rajasthan (2.1 MT to 2.3 MT), Bihar (18,000 MT to 1,80,000 MT) and Procurement targets have been increased. Uttarakhand (1,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes). The government has relaxed procurement norms for four states except Uttarakhand, where crop was damaged due to adverse weather.Chopra said he estimates wheat production to be between 110-120 metric tonnes after losses due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm in major producing states. The Flour Millers Federation has estimated wheat production at 110 metric tonnes.The agriculture ministry had earlier estimated production at 120.2 metric tonnes before adverse weather conditions.The annual survey report said there was moderate to high impact on wheat crop in nine states – Punjab, West Bengal, UP, Haryana, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra – due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm between February and April.