India’s Kharif rice procurement under MSP, which began with the start of the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) in October 2025, has reached 36.3 million tonnes as of January 6, 2026, covering nearly 78% of the season’s target of 46.3 million tonnes. Paddy arrivals in mandis during the current KMS from October 2025 to January 2026 have totalled 20.9 million tonnes, supporting steady procurement in major producing states such as Punjab, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. Haryana and Telangana have already crossed their targets, while Punjab is close to achieving its goal. For comparison, total Kharif rice procurement closed at 51.4 million tonnes in 2024-25, 48.2 million tonnes in 2023-24, and 51.5 million tonnes in 2022-23, highlighting that the current season has already covered a large share of past full-year levels.

Despite this progress, procurement remains slow and uneven in several eastern and southern states, including Assam, Bihar, Odisha, and Kerala, due to lower arrivals, limited farmer participation, and logistical issues. On the supply side, rice and paddy stocks in the central pool remain comfortable, standing at 71 million tonnes in December 2025, well above the 10-year average of about 43 million tonnes, providing a strong buffer for food security. With procurement still underway and arrivals yet to peak in some regions, the pace over the coming weeks will be key in determining whether the 2025-26 Kharif procurement target can be fully met.