Farmer groups hail PM Modi's bold stand against US trade tariffs

NEW DELHI: Representatives of several farmer organisations from across the country on Tuesday expressed their gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bold decision to not compromise with farmers' interests during trade talks despite pressure from the US.

The farmer leaders, who attended a meeting with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, extended their support to the Central govt. Chouhan asked them "not to worry" about the current "testing times" due to higher US tariffs, saying the huge agricultural sector will explore new geographies for exporting its produce.

The farmer representatives specifically referred to Modi's remarks, made while addressing the M S Swaminathan Centenary International Conference last week, that he won't compromise with farmers' interests and was even ready to pay a heavy personal price to protect them. Modi's remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff burden on Indian goods.

Though both the countries had been discussing bilateral trade issues for the last few months, they got stuck over US' demand for greater access to India's agriculture and dairy market.

"PM Modi has made an unwavering statement in the interests of farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen... The announcement not only brings relief to millions of food providers but also strengthens the self-reliance of agriculture and rural India," said Dharmendra Choudhary, national president of the Indian Farmer Chaudhary Charan Singh Organisation.
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