Punjab wheat evacuation ahead of last year despite lower arrivals; Centre adds 100 railway rakes

The higher evacuation and lifting despite lower arrivals clearly demonstrates that movement of wheat from mandis during the current season is better, leading to less glut compared to last year, the ministry said in a statement.

The Centre on Thursday said wheat evacuation from Punjab's wholesale mandis is running ahead of last year's pace despite lower crop arrivals, resulting in reduced congestion at procurement centres during the current rabi marketing season. Progressive lifting of wheat from mandis stood at 78.96 lakh tonnes as on May 6, 2026, compared with 75.63 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025. Total arrivals in the state, however, were lower at approximately 122 lakh tonnes against 125 lakh tonnes a year ago -” a shortfall of around 3 lakh tonnes. To further ease mandi congestion, the Food Ministry has allocated 100 additional ''wheat specials'' (special rail rakes), with a combined capacity of 3 lakh tonnes (LMT) for Punjab during May, earmarked for movement to Uttar Pradesh and southern states. Of the 354 wheat specials available nationally in May 2026, Punjab has been allotted 201, or nearly 60 per cent of total planned all-India wheat movement. In April 2026, the state received 234 of the 413 specials allocated nationwide. ''The higher evacuation and lifting despite lower arrivals clearly demonstrates that movement of wheat from mandis during the current season is better, leading to less glut compared to last year,'' the ministry said in a statement. Direct delivery operations, which move grain straight from mandis to storage,” have also been scaled up significantly. Approximately 3.5 lakh tonnes were moved through this mechanism in April 2026, while 6.6 lakh tonnes have been planned for May, and a further 8 lakh tonnes are expected in June. In all, around 18 lakh tonnes are slated for direct delivery from mandis this season, in line with a request from state authorities. The Food Ministry and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) said they are closely monitoring ground conditions in Punjab, which typically accounts for around 60 per cent of all-India wheat movement.