Amid rising concerns over Donald Trump's steep tariff hike on Indian exports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India would never compromise on the interests of its farmers, fishermen and livestock rearers, even if it means facing economic consequences.
The Prime Minister also said that while he knows he will "have to pay the price", he was ready to do it for farmers. "Main jaanta hoon ki vyaktigat roop se mujhe bahut badi keemat chukaanee padegi. Lekin main iske liye taiyaar hoon. (I know that I will personally have to pay a heavy price. But I am ready for it)."
"Hamare liye apne kisaanon ka hit sarvoch prathamikta hai. Bharat apne kisaanon, pashu-paalakon aur macchuaare bhai-bahanon ke hiton ke saath kabhi bhi samjhuata nahin karega. (For us, the interests of farmers are our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, livestock rearers and fishermen)," Modi said, addressing the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister said: "For the farmers of my country, for the fishermen of my country, for the livestock rearers of my country, Bharat stands ready today. We are continuously working towards increasing farmers' incomes, reducing their agricultural expenditure, and creating new sources of income".
Modi's remarks, seen as a direct message to Washington, come at a time when trade tensions between the two countries have escalated over India's continued import of Russian oil. While Modi did not explicitly mention the US or the collapsed trade talks, his comments marked a clear defense of India's position.
The PM's comments hold immense significance in the backdrop of the US president announcing a further increase in the US tariff on Indian goods, including agricultural products, to 50 percent. The statement has come a day after Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, even as the two nations are discussing a bilateral trade deal.
The trade deal has been stuck over the US demand for greater access to India's agricultural and dairy market. The US wants reduced tariffs on products like corn, soybean, apples, almonds and ethanol, as well as increased access for US dairy products. New Delhi is, however, resisting these demands as these will have a direct bearing on farmers. The US has further hiked the trade tariffs on Indian goods to put pressure on India to reduce its dependency on Russia for crude oil.
Trump announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods on Wednesday, raising the total duty to 50 per cent- among the highest imposed on any US trading partner. The new tariff, effective August 28, is meant to penalise India for continuing to buy Russian oil, Trump has said. The US has yet to impose similar tariffs for China, the biggest buyer of Russian oil. Experts say China's dominance in rare earth minerals - critical to high-tech industries - gives it leverage that India currently lacks.
Paying his respects to MS Swaminathan, the architect of the Green Revolution, Modi said, "Building on the legacy of food security, the next frontier for our agricultural scientists is ensuring nutritional security for all." On the occasion, he also released a commemorative coin and stamp in honour of the legendary scientist.
Outlining his vision for Indian agriculture, the PM emphasised the need to ensure nutritional security, crop diversification and development of climate-resilient crop varieties and technology integration. He called for developing drought-tolerant, heat-resistant and flood-adaptive crops while pushing for AI and machine learning integration in agricultural systems. The PM suggested that real-time decision support systems could be made accessible in every district to forecast crop yields, monitor pests and guide farming practices.
Modi called for increased research on crop rotation and soil-specific suitability and stressed the need to develop affordable soil testing tools and effective nutrient management techniques. He also talked about the need to intensify efforts towards solar-powered micro-irrigation and stated that drip systems and precision irrigation must be made more widespread and effective.
Stating that the Government has always considered the strength of farmers as the foundation of national progress, Modi highlighted that several schemes like PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, PM Kisan Sampada Yojana, creation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and recent PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana for the all-around development of the farm and allied sector.
"The policies formulated in recent years were not merely about assistance, but about instilling confidence among farmers," Modi said, reiterating the Government's continuous efforts to increase farmers' income, reduce production cost, and create new sources of revenue. He said financial support to cooperatives and self-help groups has given fresh momentum to the rural economy. The e-NAM platform has made it easier for farmers to sell their produce.
The event honoured Swaminathan, whom Modi described as a visionary whose contributions transcended any single era. The PM recalled Swaminathan's prescient focus on forgotten crops like millets and his early warnings about chemical overuse in farming. "Dr Swaminathan believed the solutions to climate change and nutritional challenges lie in the very crops that have been forgotten," Modi said, underlining how the scientist's work anticipated today's climate adaptation priorities.
Modi also recalled that years ago, Swaminathan had suggested transferring the genetic qualities of mangroves into rice, which would help make crops more climate-resilient. He emphasised that "today, as climate adaptation becomes a global priority, it is evident how far-sighted Swaminathan's thinking truly was." While Swaminathan worked to boost grain production, Modi said he was equally concerned about the environment and soil health. He introduced the concept of the Evergreen Revolution to balance both objectives and address emerging challenges.
Swaminathan proposed the idea of Bio-Villages to empower rural communities and farmers, besides promoting innovative ideas such as 'Community Seed Banks and Opportunity Crops.' Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand; MS Swaminathan Research Foundation Chairperson Soumya Swaminathan were also present at the event.