PRAYAGRAJ, July 5 -- Prayagraj district has emerged as the top performer in the division in wheat procurement during the 2026-27 Rabi marketing season, purchasing a record 77,900 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat-136.83% of its procurement target of 57,000 MT, said officials aware of the matter. The state-wide wheat procurement drive was conducted from March 30 to June 15. Officials attributed the record purchase to a farmer-friendly procurement policy that included doorstep purchases through mobile procurement centres, a higher minimum support price (MSP) and direct transfer of payments into farmers' bank accounts. Raju Patel, divisional food marketing controller, said 146 procurement centres were set up across Prayagraj district, supplemented by mobile procurement vans that reached farmers' villages and homes to purchase wheat. The initiative reduced transport costs for farmers while removing middlemen. A total of 14,237 farmers benefited from the procurement drive in the district. Prayagraj also recorded a sharp rise over the previous season, when only 15,483.71 MT of wheat had been procured. Procurement increased by more than 62,400 MT this year, making it the highest-ever wheat purchase recorded in the district. htc...