Indian farmers’ unions and opposition parties have called for nationwide protests against a new trade agreement between India and the United States, warning that it could harm the domestic agricultural sector by allowing increased imports of US farm products, Reuters reported.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said Indian farmers are far more vulnerable than their American counterparts due to smaller landholdings, lower subsidies, weak processing infrastructure, and rising production costs.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) coalition, which represents more than 100 farmer groups, announced protests on February 12, arguing that the deal would open the door to subsidized US agricultural imports, pushing down domestic prices and hurting rural incomes.
SKM also warned that a reduction in tariffs on soybean oil imports — currently taxed at 16.5% — would damage India’s domestic oilseed producers.
Meanwhile, the Indian government says farmers’ interests are protected, as the deal excludes imports of grains such as rice, wheat and corn, as well as dairy products, while Indian exporters of basmati rice, fruits, spices, coffee and tea would gain duty-free access to the US market.
