The government on Thursday started wheat procurement in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for its buffer stock, the target for which has been set at 260 lakh tonnes this season.<br/>An official statement said that so far the government has procured 5.3 lakh tonne this season from Madhya Pradesh,Rajasthan and Gujarat, where purchases began from March 15.<br/><br/>Wheat procurement was at 2.05 lakh tonne as on March 31, 2009.<br/><br/>Procurement in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat began early this season due to early arrival of crop in the mandis. So far, 7.59 lakh tonnes of wheat has arrived on the<br/>mandis in the three states.<br/><br/>The government's wheat procurement starts from April and continues till June. Food Corporation of India along with state government agencies procure the fooodgrain for the<br/><br/>Central reserve, meant for supply through the public distribution system.<br/>