Madhya Pradesh is likely to miss the 8.5-million-tonne wheat procurement target for 2017-18 (Apr-Mar) by 1.5 million tonne, due to lower turnout of farmers at procurement centres following delay in payments. Target of 8.5 million tonne now seems difficult. Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest wheat growing state in the country with output this year seen at a record 23 million tonne. since the procurement began in the state late March, around 6 million tonne of wheat has been procured, while another 1 million tonne is expected to flow into government reserves till early June. Delay in payment from cooperative banks due to cash crunch has irked farmers, pushing them to sell the grain in spot markets for instant payments.