Chandigarh, Dec 26 (IANS): Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Thursday demanded royalty from the union government on food grains and water on the pattern given to other states for supplying coal and other minerals.

Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of a conference to mark the Shaheedi Jor Mela in Sirhind town, 60 km from here, Badal said the royalty should be given for the hard work of Punjab farmers who have made the country self-sufficient in food production.

"The hard working and resilient farmers of the state have over-exploited the only available natural resources of the state in terms of water and fertility of the soil to make the country self-reliant in food production.

"The immense contribution of the state’s farmers has never been recognized by the country. It is high time that the nation must repay the peasantry of the state by giving them royalty on water and food grains supplied to the country,” Badal said.

Green Revolution state Punjab contributes over 60 percent of the total food grains to the national kitty despite having just 1.54 percent of the country’s geographical area.