In anticipation of a three-hour rail blockade by farmers in Punjab, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has proposed relaxing wheat procurement quality standards due to significant crop damage from unseasonal rains. Farmers are demanding these changes to align with more lenient standards in neighboring Haryana and Rajasthan. Since April 1, wheat procurement in Punjab has stalled, leading to long queues in mandis as farmers report that inferior quality grains are not being purchased due to strict quality norms. This has resulted in a 69% decline in all-India wheat procurement in early April compared to the same period last year. The FCI's recommendations include allowing up to 20% shrivelled or broken grains without value cut, compared to the current 6% standard, and up to 80% lustre loss grains. The Centre will make the final decision on these recommendations. Currently, the FCI has procured 1.53 million tonnes of wheat this season, significantly lower than the 5 million tonnes procured during the same timeframe last year. The government has set a procurement target of over 30 million tonnes for the ongoing 2026–27 season.