Wheat procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the Centre’s buffer stocks has reached 1.44 million tonnes (mt) - 41 per cent higher than 1.03 mt in the year-ago period. However, this year procurement began on March 13, starting from Rajasthan. Though the Government has set a target to buy 37.29 mt in the marketing year beginning April 1, officials have said that the 'realistic' procurement may be 31-32 mt.