Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar visited Rajpura and Khanna Mandis on Friday to inspect the ongoing paddy procurement.

At Rajpura, the Union Minister was accompanied by Punjab’s Food and Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon.

Punjab’s Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana and former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, who were also present, reiterated the demand for a special package and bonus to farmers of the state for producing sufficient paddy in a drought-like situation.

The ruling SAD has demanded that the state farmers be given a bonus of Rs 400 to 500 per quintal as part of a special package, besides raising the MSP for paddy to Rs 1,400 per quintal.

It has also sought a grant of Rs 1,500 crore to the state for buying additional power from the Centre for paddy.

Food officials at Rajpura said a total of 70 lakh tonnes of paddy had arrived in various mandis of the state and Rs 4,500 crore was already paid to farmers after procurement by various state and central agencies.