Shortage of storage space in Bathinda and Mansa districts has made the FCI stay away from procuring wheat so far, which has led to resentment and anger among farmers. Besides, the field staff of the agency fears being heckled. The FCI has demanded security for its field staff in at least seven of the 21 purchase centres in Bathinda district. The FCI has a storage capacity of 11.7 lakh tonnes and nearly 13 lakh tonnes rice is already stored in its godowns in both Bathinda and Mansa districts. Slow pace of movement of rice to other states through the railway network is increasing problems of the FCI. In some of the purchase centres, the FCI has decided to make purchases only if the rakes are provided by the railways to transport wheat directly out of Punjab without keeping the grains in its godowns, which were filled beyond capacity.