India's wheat procurement in the ongoing Rabi marketing season has already crossed a record 10 million tonne.

Statistics from the Agriculture Ministry said 13.5 million tonne of wheat arrived at different wholesale markets across the country. Out of this, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other state agencies have purchased nearly 10 million tonne of wheat for the central pool.

The Punjab government has decided to buy wheat separately (not for FCI) to supply wheat flour to consumers at subsidised rate.

FCI's wheat purchase from Punjab stood at 6.c million tonne as on May 20.

In Haryana, procurement has been hit as farmers in areas bordering Rajasthan are taking their grains to the western state for selling to private traders.

India's wheat production is pegged at 73 million tonne during 2006-07, against 69 million tonne last year.