Delhi govt eases quality norms for wheat procurement at MSP

The Delhi government on Wednesday said it has relaxed norms for the procurement of rabi crops at a minimum support price, allowing farmers to sell lower-quality wheat damaged by rain or hailstorm. Under the revised norms, wheat crop with up to 70 per cent loss of grain lustre, as well as shrivelled and broken grain up to 15 per cent, will be purchased at procurement centres, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said in a statement. In view of the adverse weather conditions that have affected crop quality this year, the government has decided to provide relief to the farmers and prevent distress sales of wheat at lower prices. The Centre, on a request by the Delhi government, has approved special relaxations in quality standards for wheat procurement in all the districts of Delhi for the rabi marketing season 2026-27, the statement said. The chief minister made it clear that wheat procured under these relaxed norms will be handled separately. Such grain will be stored independently from regular stock, with a distinct accounting system to ensure full transparency. She added that the wheat of this season will be prioritised for early utilisation and will not be kept in storage for extended periods. It will be strictly used within Delhi to meet local food requirements, Gupta said. ''Ensuring fair value for the hard work of our Annadatas (food providers) is our responsibility,'' the chief minister said and added that the Delhi government will bear any financial or operational implications arising from the decision to procure the weather-affected wheat. Wheat procurement by Food Corporation of India (FCI) has begun at Narela and Najafgarh Mandis this rabi season, after a gap of four years, due to intervention by the chief minister. The sown area in the national capital spreads over 29,000 hectares, with annual wheat production hovering around 80,000 metric tonnes.

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