NEW DELHI, April 24 -- The Centre has raised its wheat procurement target from 30.33 million tonnes to 34.5 million tonnes for the 2026-27 marketing season, amid crop damage from unseasonal rains and higher offtake demand from states, Sanjeev Chopra, secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, said on Friday.

"We have raised procurement targets across the key states of Madhya Pradesh from 7.8 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes, Uttar Pradesh from 1 million tonnes to 2.5 million tonnes, and Rajasthan from 2.1 million tonnes to 2.35 million tonnes. The procurement targets from Bihar have also increased," said Chopra.

The government has also introduced QR code-enabled gunny bags for wheat and paddy procurement to improve tracea...