New Delhi, April 21, 2026 In a relief for Delhi farmers, the Centre has accepted Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s request to restart government wheat procurement in the capital through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), an exercise that was discontinued in 2021-22, an official said on Tuesday.​

“This is an important step in prioritising farmers’ interests. With coordinated efforts between the Centre and the Delhi government, farmers in the capital will be able to secure fair value for their produce and become more economically empowered,” she said.​

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, wheat procurement at MSP by the FCI is being resumed in Delhi after 2021-22. The capital has around 29,000 hectares under cultivation and produces nearly 80,000 metric tonnes of wheat annually, exceeding local consumption and leaving a marketable surplus.​

The development follows a recent letter by the Chief Minister to Union Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi, seeking the immediate resumption of wheat procurement in Delhi during the ongoing rabi marketing season.​

The procurement will commence from April 24 at two key locations, the FCI depot in Narela and the Najafgarh mandi, enabling farmers to sell their produce closer to home, said the statement.​

She added that locally procured wheat can be seamlessly integrated into the Public Distribution System (PDS), thereby strengthening the food security framework. At the same time, curbing unnecessary outward movement of grain will help maintain balance in local markets and improve supply chain efficiency.​(Agency)