Uttar Pradesh opens wheat procurement with 3,574 centres and higher MSP
India’s largest wheat state has started procurement for the 2026 rabi crop with a higher support price, a growing centre network and promised quick payments.
Uttar Pradesh has begun procurement of the 2026 rabi wheat crop, with 3,574 purchase centres already operational as the campaign opens on March 30. The Indian Express reported that the drive will continue until June 15. For one of India’s most important grain-producing states, the procurement season matters not only for farm income but also for the movement of wheat into public stocks and the broader cereal market.
Ahead of the launch, the state government announced a Rs 160 increase in the minimum support price for wheat, taking the MSP to Rs 2,585 per quintal. Officials also said farmers would receive an additional Rs 20 per quintal toward handling and cleaning charges. The package is intended to make official procurement more attractive during harvest and to support grower margins as grain begins to move out of farms.
The state says preparation has been strong. At least 2.24 lakh farmers had already registered to sell wheat before procurement formally started. As the campaign expands, the network is expected to rise to 6,500 procurement centres run by eight agencies, including the Food and Civil Supplies Department. Centres are scheduled to operate daily from 9 am to 6 pm, giving the state a broad collection footprint during the peak arrival period.
Authorities have also issued instructions on on-site arrangements, including shade, drinking water and seating facilities for farmers as temperatures rise. With a good wheat crop expected this season, the government has revised its procurement ambition upward. The Food and Civil Supplies Department had initially set a target of 30 lakh metric tonnes, but that goal was later raised to 50 lakh metric tonnes, according to Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi.
Payment speed and process transparency are central to the state’s message. Officials said farmers would be paid within 48 hours through Direct Benefit Transfer, while the entire procurement process has been moved online to reduce middlemen and improve transparency. Farmers who have not yet registered can do so through the official portal at fcs.up.gov.in or through the UP Kisan Mitra mobile app. A toll-free helpline, 18001800150, has also been set up to handle grievances during the procurement campaign.