The Centre has approved relaxation in wheat procurement quality norms for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27 in Punjab and Chandigarh, offering major relief to farmers affected by untimely rainfall.
According to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the decision follows requests from the Punjab government and the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Recent unseasonal rains have adversely impacted wheat quality across several districts, making it difficult for farmers to meet standard procurement specifications and sell at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Farmers of Rajasthan and Haryana have already been given such relaxation.
Under the revised norms, the permissible limit of ‘luster loss’ in wheat has been increased up to 70% across Punjab and Chandigarh. Additionally, the limit for shrivelled and broken grains has been relaxed from the existing 6% to 15%. However, the combined limit for damaged and slightly damaged grains will remain capped at 6%.
The notification also states that wheat procured under relaxed specifications will be stored and accounted for separately. Any deterioration in stock quality during storage will be the responsibility of the respective state governments.
The move is expected to prevent distress sales and ensure that farmers can sell their produce despite weather-related quality damage, thereby safeguarding their incomes. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat this year is Rs 2585 per quintal.
Unseasonal rains in March and April led to higher moisture content in wheat grains, along with issues such as shrinkage and loss of luster. As a result, a large portion of the crop was falling outside the prescribed quality standards, affecting the procurement process.