Agri Minister Shivraj Singh Defends US India Trade Deal
Ø
Door closed’ on wheat, rice, maize, and dairy
- No imports at any cost
Ø
India will not bend, will not allow any harm
to farmers - Government firm on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives
1. Clear
Assurance from Agriculture Minister
·
Shivraj Singh Chouhan dismissed speculation around
the India-US trade agreement.
·
Stated unequivocally that no compromise has been
made on Indian farmers’ interests.
·
Emphasised that negotiations are guided by a
“farmer-first approach.”
2.
Backing of Prime Minister
·
Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, farmers’
welfare remains paramount.
·
Reiterated PM’s commitment: India will not bow
down, and farmers’ interests will not be harmed.
3. Food
Grains Fully Protected
·
Sensitive crops such as wheat, rice, and maize
are completely shielded from imports.
·
India is now the world’s top rice producer,
surpassing China.
·
No imports accepted that could affect food security
or farmer incomes.
4. Dairy
Sector Completely Ring-Fenced
·
No imports of milk, ghee, curd, paneer, or other
dairy products allowed.
·
Protects millions of small-scale dairy farmers
across rural India.
5. Apple
Imports: Limited and Duty-Protected
·
India’s annual apple demand: ~5.5 lakh metric tons.
·
Proposed US imports capped at 1 lakh metric tons.
·
Protective duty structure: ₹25 added over
₹80/kg import value.
·
Seen as diversification from suppliers like Turkey
and Iran, not a threat to domestic growers (Himachal Pradesh, J&K).
6. No
Concessions on Soybeans and Maize
·
Minister clarified that no trade concessions
were granted on these crops.
·
Countered narratives suggesting vulnerability in
oilseed and feed sectors.
7. Cotton
Imports for Industrial Balance
·
Domestic cotton output insufficient for textile
industry needs.
·
Limited imports help sustain:
o
45+ million jobs in textiles
o
₹4 lakh crore textile exports (target:
₹45 lakh crore)
·
Aims to strengthen farmer-industry linkage.
8. Boost
for Indian Spice Exports
·
No import concessions on spices like cumin,
fenugreek, psyllium, especially from Rajasthan.
·
Zero-duty access to US market secured for Indian
spices.
·
India’s spice exports already exceed ₹1.5
lakh crore annually.
9.
Strategic Framing of Trade Policy
·
Minister compared trade resolve to decisive actions
like surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor.
·
Emphasised trade agreements are evaluated through a
national security and farmer welfare lens.
10.
Broader Objective
·
Maintain India’s self-sufficiency in staples.
·
Protect rural livelihoods.
·
Expand export opportunities without exposing
farmers to harmful competition.
Conclusion
The government has firmly stated that the India-US
trade agreement will not undermine Indian agriculture. With strict safeguards
on staples and dairy, calibrated quotas on apples, industrial pragmatism in
cotton, and expanded export access for spices, the framework aims to balance
global trade engagement with strong domestic farmer protection.
Union
Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh
Chouhan on 17 February, 2026 categorically dismissed various speculations surrounding
the India-US Trade Agreement from Jaipur, Rajasthan, stating in clear terms that
under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there will never be any compromise
on farmers’ interests.
Shivraj
Singh Chouhan emphasised that as India’s Agriculture Minister, he is stating with
full responsibility to the farmers that no compromise has been made on Indian farmers’
interests in any agreement. He made it abundantly clear that the door is firmly
closed on sensitive crops like wheat, rice, and maize. India is now number one in
the world in rice production, having surpassed China. In such a scenario, no imports
that could harm farmers have been accepted.
Indian
farmers’ interests fully protected
Addressing
questions raised on the apple issue, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
explained that India requires approximately 5.5 lakh metric tons of apples every
year, which currently come from countries like Turkey and Iran as well. He stated
that if only 1 lakh metric tons of apples are sourced from the US out of this quantity,
with a quota determined by adding a duty of ₹25 over the import value of ₹80
per kg, it will not cause any harm to India’s apple producers. Rather, it is merely
a minor shift from sourcing from Turkey to another place.
On
soybeans and maize, he clarified unequivocally that no concessions have been granted
on these. He also reminded that during the Congress regime, agricultural imports
worth $20 billion took place, which included dairy products as well.
Shivraj
Singh Chouhan stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given clear instructions
that no dairy products — milk, ghee, curd, paneer, or any others — will be allowed
to be imported onto Indian soil at any cost, ensuring no harm comes to the country’s
milk-producing farmers.
In
the case of cotton, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that domestic production
falls short of the needs of industries, which necessitates some cotton imports to
keep the textile industry running, boost employment, and increase exports. He informed
that India’s textile exports, combining various products, currently stand at about
4 lakh crore rupees, with the potential to reach ₹45 lakh crore. Ultimately,
the benefits will accrue to farmers and the rural economy.
He
announced emphatically that no room has been left for imports of spice crops like
cumin, fenugreek, and psyllium produced in Rajasthan, along with other Indian spices.
Instead, arrangements have been made to increase exports of these spices to markets
like the United States with zero duty, directly benefiting Indian farmers.
The
Union Agriculture Minister stated in unequivocal terms that Prime Minister Narendra
Modi had made two promises to the nation — “I will never let India bow down” and
“I will keep farmers’ interests paramount and not allow any harm to come to them”
— and the government stands firmly on both. Citing Operation Sindoor, airstrikes, and surgical strikes, he remarked that
just as no compromise was made on national security, similarly, there will be no
compromise on agriculture and farmers’ interests. Every global agreement will be
viewed through a “farmer-first approach.”
This
detailed clarification from Shivraj Singh Chouhan comes amid ongoing discussions
and concerns about the India-US trade agreement, particularly regarding its potential
impact on India’s agricultural sector. The minister’s statements aim to reassure
farmers and stakeholders that the government’s negotiations have prioritized protecting
domestic producers from any adverse effects of increased foreign competition. By
specifying quotas, duties, and outright bans on sensitive items, the agreement ensures
that India’s self-sufficiency in key food grains and dairy remains intact.
For
instance, wheat, rice, and maize — staples that form the backbone of India’s food
security — are completely shielded from US imports. This is crucial given India’s
position as a global leader in rice production, a status achieved through years
of focused agricultural policies and farmer support programs. Similarly, the dairy
sector, which supports millions of small-scale producers across rural India, has
been ring-fenced with absolute prohibitions, reflecting the cultural and economic
significance of products like milk and paneer in daily life.
The
apple import allowance, limited to a modest quota with protective duties, exemplifies
a balanced approach. India’s annual apple demand is met largely through imports
due to limited domestic temperate horticulture suitable for this crop. Redirecting
a fraction from traditional suppliers like Turkey to the United States does not
threaten local growers in regions like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, who
focus on premium varieties. This move could even stabilise prices by diversifying
sources, preventing over-reliance on geopolitically volatile suppliers.
Soybeans
and maize, vital for oilseed and feed industries, remain untouched by concessions,
countering narratives of vulnerability. The minister’s reference to past regimes
underscores a comparative perspective: under previous governments, higher import
volumes allegedly undermined local production, whereas the current framework emphasises
safeguards. Cotton’s treatment highlights industrial pragmatism.
India’s
textile sector is a major forex earner and job creator, employing over 45 million
people, predominantly in rural areas. Supplementary imports ensure mills operate
at capacity, sustaining demand for home-grown cotton and enabling ambitious export
targets. This symbiotic linkage benefits farmers through higher procurement prices
and expanded markets.
Spice
exports stand to gain significantly. Rajasthan’s arid specialties like cumin, fenugreek,
and psyllium command premium prices globally. Zero-duty access to the United States
market will enhance farmer incomes directly, without reciprocal import risks. India’s
spice sector already exports over ₹1.5 lakh crore annually, and such deals
amplify this strength.
Prime
Minister Modi’s directives frame the entire policy: national sovereignty and farmer
welfare are non-negotiable. Analogies to military operations reinforce this resolve,
positioning trade as an extension of strategic autonomy. The “farmer-first” lens
ensures all pacts undergo rigorous scrutiny for domestic impacts.