The government is planning to buy 24 million tonnes (MT) of wheat for its central pool in the rabi season, with the crop due for harvesting from April.
"We are aiming to procure 24 MT of wheat this year after assessing the inputs and estimates of the state governments," a senior government official said.
The government had procured 25.3 MT last year.
For this year, the government's purchases may increase depending on prices during April-June--the harvesting period of rabi wheat crop, the official said.
At present, wheat prices are ruling above the minimum support price (MSP) at Rs 1,360 per quintal. If the high rates continue to prevail during the harvesting period, farmers are unlikely to sell the grain to government's nodal foodgrains procurement agency Food Corporation of India.
The government has fixed wheat MSP at Rs 1,100 per quintal this year.
"Any increase or dip in government's wheat procurement would entirely depend on prices," the official said.
The country's wheat output is estimated at 80.28 MT this year, slightly lower than the bumper crop of 80.68 MT in 2008-09 season. Wheat, which was sown during October-December period of 2009, is harvested from April and continues till June.
