Farmer organizations including the opposition have started cornering the central government on the trade deal with America. They allege that agriculture and dairy sectors have not been kept out of it. However, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal claims that the government has protected the interests of the agriculture sector.
It is claimed that many grains and vegetables have been kept out, but the government is not yet aware of which agricultural products it has given the green signal to. The information which should have been received from the Central Government is being received from Donald Trump’s White House. This is bound to increase the concerns of not only the opposition but also the farmers.
White House claims separate from government
The government claims that highly sensitive sectors like dairy, meat, poultry and grains have been given full protection, while the White House says otherwise. In its fact sheet, the White House said India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dry grains, red sorghum, nuts, fresh and processed fruits, some pulses, soybean oil, wine and spirits and other products.
Indian government is hiding things: Farmers Union
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha convenor Sarwan Singh Pandher said that right now the Indian government is keeping it hidden. Not telling everything. You are the Prime Minister of 140 crore people. Whatever agreement you have made, you should present everything before the country. The agricultural sector will be taken over by corporates. On the other hand, Dr. Viju Krishnan, General Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, says that Indian farmers will not be able to compete with heavily subsidized American farmers.
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The country is being misled: Akali Dal
Akali Dal MP Harsimrat said that it is very sad that the country is being misled on the India-US trade deal. Bringing into the country heavily subsidized farm goods like American maize, soybean and sorghum in the name of animal feed and fresh fruits like apples and oranges will worsen the condition of our farmers. What will happen to our farmers due to the arrival of foreign apples? He said that the country cannot be populated by ruining the farmers of the country. Harsimrat asked what was the need to kneel? The government should answer this.
The Commerce Department said in a statement, ‘Indian farmers are completely protected under the India-US trade deal. Entry of vegetables is not allowed. Frozen vegetables, shelf-stable vegetables, and a variety of canned vegetables are still out. There will be no relaxation in the sensitive farming sector due to this. However, the department does not specify which agricultural products have been exempted.
Akhilesh and Rahul Gandhi also surrounded the government
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Modi of selling the hard work and blood sweat of the country’s farmers. SP President Akhilesh Yadav also raised objection to the trade deal. He said in the Lok Sabha, ‘What will be the condition of our farmers after this deal? When everything comes from abroad, what will our farmers grow in India? Till now this government has not been able to guarantee MSP to the farmers.
Akhilesh Yadav says that the deal with America has not been relaxed. The first question on the budget is whether the deal was made first or the budget. $500 billion trade one-way? Where will our self-reliance, Swadeshi slogans go? The public wants to know from BJP whether 0 is bigger or 18.
Government claimed to be farmer friendly
Karnataka BJP wrote on its X post, ‘Farmers first, country above all. Clear policy of Modi government – no compromise with the interests of farmers. The India-US trade agreement clearly states that many Indian grains including ragi, wheat, rice, jowar, saja, maize etc. cannot be imported. Self-reliant farming, local food and respect for food providers – this is the real identity of New India.
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The situation is such that the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPFO), the department related to employees, has also started giving clarification on social media. In its post, the department wrote, ‘India-US Trade Deal: Farmers completely safe, no entry of dry vegetables, beans and pulses and vegetables including tubers and roots. No relaxation was given to protect India’s farming interests.
Indian agricultural exports worth $1.36 billion will get access to the US at zero additional duty, the Press Information Bureau said in a post. Major products like spices, tea, coffee, fruits, nuts and processed foods will get the benefit of ‘zero-duty’. Full protection has been maintained for highly sensitive sectors such as dairy, meat, poultry and cereals.
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