These buffer standards are reviewed quarterly, with the latest revision effective from April 1.

India’s foodgrain stocks have climbed sharply above prescribed buffer norms, highlighting both strong government procurement and emerging surplus pressure within the storage system, according to official data.

As of April 1, total wheat and rice stocks held in Food Corporation of India godowns stood at 604.02 lakh tonnes, nearly three times the buffer requirement of 210.40 lakh tonnes. The gap between actual reserves and mandated safety levels reflects sustained procurement over recent seasons.

Rice stocks account for 386.10 lakh tonnes against a buffer norm of 135.80 lakh tonnes, while wheat stocks stand at 217.92 lakh tonnes compared to the required 74.60 lakh tonnes. These buffer standards are reviewed quarterly, with the latest revision effective from April 1.

The government maintains these reserves to ensure uninterrupted supply under the public distribution system and other welfare schemes aimed at food security for vulnerable households across the country.

Alongside high stock levels, the rabi procurement cycle for 2026 remains active. Wheat has been sown across 334.17 lakh hectares, with harvesting nearly complete at 97 percent. Pulses harvesting has already concluded, while rabi paddy harvesting has reached about 59.32 percent, concentrated in southern and eastern states.

Market trends, however, indicate persistent pressure on farm prices. Several key rabi crops, including wheat, rice, maize, and pulses such as tur and moong, are trading below minimum support price levels, pointing to a disconnect between procurement support and market realisation for farmers in the current season.