Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India would “never compromise” on the rights of its farmers, fishers, and dairy producers. This was a strong statement in the face of rising trade tensions with the United States. Modi said at a global conference marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan that he is willing to “pay any price” to maintain these important fields.
“Our top priority is the interests of farmers.” Modi added, “India will never put the needs of farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers first.” He said, “I think I will have to pay the price, and I’m ready for that.”
The Prime Minister’s comments come at a time when the US has put a 50% tariff on all Indian exports, including agricultural items. This is expected to have a big effect on India’s export sector. The duties are said to be a reaction to India’s ongoing trade with Russia, especially its purchase of Russian oil, which the U.S. has called “funding the Russian war machine.”
During the occasion, Modi also gave out a coin and a stamp to honor M. S. Swaminathan, a famous Indian geneticist and agricultural scientist. Swaminathan, who was born on August 7, 1925, and died on September 28, 2023, is renowned as the “father of the Green Revolution” in India. His groundbreaking work in the 1960s, which included bringing in high-yielding wheat varieties and sophisticated farming methods, helped change India from a country that didn’t have enough food to one that had too much. Many people say that his work saved millions of people from starving and helped farmers get out of poverty. The global conference was held to recognize his lasting impact and his goal for farming that lasts.