Farmers protest in India over trade deal with US

In Lucknow, farmers are protesting outside the district administrator’s office against the India-US trade deal. Under the slogan “My field is my right,” representatives of the Indian Farmers’ Union have launched a sit-in in front of the administration building. Bhaskar reports.

The protesters are waiting for the district administrator to hand over a memorandum demanding that their position be conveyed to the central government. According to the farmers, they have come from remote villages, but the official does not come out of his office to meet them. They say they will leave the protest site only after handing over their appeal.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which unites farmers’ organizations in India, reported that protests have also begun in the cities of Patna and Bangalore.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that thousands of farmers across India are preparing for large-scale protests against the trade deal with the US, which they consider a threat to the country’s agricultural sector. Organizers say New Delhi’s concessions could open up markets for American products, including DDGS and soybean oil, increasing competition for local producers.

Farmer groups fear cheaper imports will hit farmers’ incomes. The situation is reminiscent of the 2020-2021 protests, when farmers paralyzed the capital and posed a serious political challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Protests are expected to take place in Punjab state and in central New Delhi, where security has already been beefed up.

The government is trying to defuse tensions. Commerce Minister Piyushi Goyal said sensitive sectors, including dairy and poultry, were excluded from the talks, and imports of genetically modified crops were not part of the concessions.

The trade deal was previously announced by US President Donald Trump, who announced tariff cuts in exchange for increased purchases of American goods. At the same time, details of the agreement remain limited, and changes in the White House’s wording have added to the uncertainty.

Tags: India, protests, USA