Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to protect farmers’ interests amid tariff pressures, saying that there would be no compromise on the welfare of the farming community.
Speaking at an event in Subrahmanyam Hall, New Delhi, Chouhan stressed that India’s vast population is its strength and that the country will seek out new markets to counter the challenges posed by international trade pressures.
In a veiled reference to the United States imposing a 50% tariff on Indian goods – and the apparent pressure in trade talks for greater access to India’s agriculture and dairy sectors – Chouhan highlighted the stark differences between the two countries in terms of landholdings, farming practices, and production costs.
“You know how much land they hold – 10,000 hectares, 15,000 hectares. Meanwhile, our farmers often own one to three acres, with many having just half an acre. Is this fair competition? They use GM seeds, while our stance on GM crops is different. The whole country was apprehensive: What will happen? They want to sell us their soybean, wheat, maize, and rice,” the Agriculture Minister said.
He noted that the lower production costs and higher yields in countries like the US – driven by GM seeds and advanced technologies – would severely undercut Indian farmers if agricultural imports were liberalised.
“The cost of production per hectare is far higher here. If these products entered our market freely, domestic crop prices would fall sharply. Where would the farmer go? That’s why we decided that no matter what happens, there will be no compromise on farmers’ interests,” Chouhan asserted.
Chouhan cited PM Modi’s recent statement that “no matter how much loss I personally incur, the interests of farmers will not be compromised.”
“This is the voice of India, the voice of farmers. Farmer brothers, be assured – if there are difficulties, we will face them. We will find new markets, and India itself is a huge market. Europe’s population is 50 crore, America’s is 30 crore, while ours is 144 crore. Our population is not our weakness; it is our strength. That is why this decision was taken. This is a testing time, but we will not budge or bow,” Chouhan said.
The United States imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods last month, later raising them to 50% in response to India’s import of Russian oil.
Chouhan also reaffirmed the government’s determination to strengthen the agricultural sector by providing more resources. In a separate remark, he dismissed recent nuclear threats from Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, noting that India has decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack.
“As a farmer, I want to thank our Prime Minister. The Indus Waters Treaty was unjust. The rivers, land, and water are ours, yet canals were built in Pakistan with our water – and even our money. We gave away 80% of the water. That was a historical mistake. Now, this will not be allowed. Our water will be used for our own farmers,” Chouhan said.
Referring to Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism, Chouhan reiterated PM Modi’s stance that “blood and water cannot flow together.”
The Agriculture Minister also announced that the government would soon introduce a new law to take strict action against the production of fake fertilisers and chemicals. He said various schemes for farmers’ welfare are being prioritised, including the digital payment of crop insurance claims to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, with the latest disbursement made on August 11 from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
Concluding his address, Chouhan underlined PM Modi’s Nation First resolve, emphasising that the Prime Minister has consistently taken strong, bold, nation-centric decisions for which the country will remain grateful.
(With inputs from ANI)