‘Won’t harm farmers’: Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on India-US trade deal; takes ‘part-time politician’ jibe at Rahul Gandhi
File photo: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Picture credit: PTI)
Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the India-US interim trade deal was finalised after careful consideration, asserting that the government has ensured that no decision harms the farming community.Speaking at a programme, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said, “I am speaking with full responsibility as the agriculture minister of India. In the trade agreement, we have taken complete care of the interests of Indian farmers. There will be no losses for India’s farming community,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
‘Imports needed where India is not self-sufficient’
Addressing concerns around agricultural imports, Chouhan said India must import commodities where domestic production falls short.“We are not self-sufficient when it comes to pulses even today. If something that we need comes from another country, what is the objection?” he asked.He noted that India imports around 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually.“They come from countries like Turkey and Iran. If one lakh metric tonnes (of apple) come from the United States, after ensuring that it does not affect our farmers, what is the problem?” he asked.On cotton, the minister said the textile industry faces shortages when domestic output declines. “When cotton production falls short, we have to import,” he said, as per PTI.His remarks come amid political criticism of the trade agreement’s potential impact on farmers and sensitive crops.
Rahul Gandhi’s allegations rejected
Without naming him directly, Chouhan took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making false allegations.“There is one leader who is a part-time politician and a full-time dramatist. He neither understands trade nor tradition. Those who have never seen villages and farms are making allegations every day,” he claimed.Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had raised concerns over the India-US trade pact, asking whether provisions in the interim deal could open the door to more agricultural imports in the future, including pulses and grains, and whether genetically modified (GM) products could impact Indian farmers.He had also questioned the fate of soya farmers in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan if India were to import GM soya oil from the US, and whether farmers could survive “another price shock”.
MSP, sugar and edible oil policies under UPA
Chouhan also targeted the erstwhile UPA government over its handling of agricultural policy decisions.Referring to the Swaminathan Committee recommendations, he asked why the UPA government had refused to implement the proposal to fix the minimum support price (MSP) at 50 per cent above the cost of production.“The UPA government filed an affidavit saying that it (fixing MSP) would distort the market. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who decided that MSP will be given at 50 per cent above production cost,” he said.Chouhan also questioned why no buffer stock was created during record sugar production in 2006-07.“When prices fell, why were farmers not protected? What kind of trade was it to import sugar at Rs 36 per kg and export it at Rs 12.50?” he asked.He further claimed that India was self-reliant in edible oils until 1993-94, but the Congress government placed them under open general licence, increasing import dependence.“Thousands of tonnes of foodgrain were lying in the warehouses. Even the Supreme Court said they should be distributed to the poor. But the UPA government said the court should not interfere,” he alleged, adding that Rahul Gandhi should respond to these questions.
NDA’s welfare measures and focus on technology
Chouhan said the NDA government is providing free foodgrain to 80 crore poor people across the country.“Farmers are ‘annadatas’. The government is working to promote the interests of farmers and empower them with technology.“We must move towards natural farming. We must link agriculture with animal husbandry and other activities so that farmers’ incomes increase,” he said.“Our effort is to reduce and eliminate the difficulties faced by the farmers. Their welfare is the top priority for the NDA,” Chouhan added, as per PTI.
Bharat-VISTAAR platform launched
On the occasion, the agriculture minister launched an artificial intelligence-based digital platform, Bharat-VISTAAR, aimed at providing end-to-end support to farmers.Describing it as the beginning of a digital revolution in agriculture, Chouhan said the multi-layered platform would provide real-time, integrated information and services.Through Bharat-VISTAAR, farmers will receive AI-based, timely advice on cultivation through a unified digital interface, enhancing transparency and self-reliance, he said.Initially rolled out in Hindi and English, the platform will be expanded to other Indian languages. It will provide mandi prices, farming practices, details of central welfare schemes, crop-specific scientific advice, weather forecasts, agricultural loans, scheme eligibility and application processes on a single platform.Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma said the initiative would boost farmers’ prosperity by delivering information directly to their phones.Earlier, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal accused Rahul Gandhi of “fearmongering” and attempting to mislead farmers and exporters.As the debate continues, the government has maintained that the interim pact balances trade expansion with protection of domestic agricultural interests.
