New Delhi
India is a country where farming is a big part of our culture and economy. About 44 percent of the people make their livelihood from farming. Our farmers work hard day and night and feed the country, but their life is not easy. A major problem is import of foreign agriculture and dairy products, especially from countries like America.
The government there gives such a big subsidy to its farmers that their products become very cheap. If these cheap products come in our market without any restriction, then our farmers will suffer a lot.
Subsidy to a farmer in America
According to Atul Thakur, according to 2022 data, India imposed 40.2 percent on food products coming from the US and an average of 49 percent import duty on food products imported from all over the world. This fee is necessary so that the prices of foreign products are more in our market and our farmers get a chance to sell. In America, a farmer gets a subsidy of $ 61,000 on an average, while our farmer is just $ 282. Because of this, maize, soybean, wheat and dairy products of America are sold at very cheap prices. It is difficult for our farmers to compete with them, because they cost more.
Crop yield low
Most of the farmers in India are small and marginal, who have only 1.08 hectares of land on an average. On the other hand, a farmer in America has an average of 187 hectares of land. We take more hard work in farming, because most of the work is done by hand or small machines. Also, the yield of our crops is also low, which increases the cost of production.
Farmers’ earnings are in danger of decreasing
If cheap foreign products fall into the market, the prices of local products will fall. This will reduce the earnings of farmers and will make their lives more difficult. Not only this, the food security of the country can also be in danger, because our country is dependent on its own crops for its needs.
Another big thing is also related to our culture and religion. Some products in the US often use meat spices, which can hurt India’s religious and cultural beliefs. Many Indian people are very conscious about the fact that there are no such things in their food.
If American dairy products come here without strict rules, people’s sentiments may be hurt. In addition, maize and soybeans coming from the US are mostly genetically modified (GM). GM crops are not allowed in India, because they are considered dangerous for human health and environment. If these imported crops are found with our crops, then our biodiversity may be damaged.
Trade agreement between India and America
The trade agreement between India and the US was talked about several times, but it gets stuck on agriculture and dairy products. The US wants India to open its market for products such as its milk powder, cheese, apple, walnuts, maize and soybean. He demands to reduce import duty and loosen rules on GM crops. But India is not ready for this, because this will threaten the livelihood of crores of small farmers. India’s dairy industry is mostly unorganized, and cooperative institutions like Amul are supporting the earnings of crores of farmers. They will not be able to stand in front of American dairy products.
Experience of other countries
The experiences of other countries also tell the same. Mexico signed a NAFTA agreement with the US in 1994, causing cheap American maize and soybeans there. Millions of Mexican farmers had to quit farming and unemployment increased. The same happened in countries like Chile and South Korea. Local farmers weakened due to floods of US products there. India does not want this to be here too.
India’s attitude is clear that it wants to save its farmers and dairy industry. Organizations like Amul and Swadeshi Jagran Manch oppose the opening of market for foreign dairy products. Experts say that some American products may be allowed in limited quantities, provided they are cleaned by which fodder they are made of. India also wants exemption to export its organic food and spices to America. But India’s stance on dairy and GM products is strict.
Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. There is a danger of decreasing farmers’ income due to cheap imports, which can weaken the rural economy. The 2020-21 peasant movement showed that ignoring the interests of farmers can be risky for the government. Therefore, the government is giving priority to its farmers in business talks with America. Under the target of self -sufficient India, it is necessary to promote local production and reduce dependence on foreign imports. This will not only improve the lives of farmers, but will also remain the food security and cultural identity of the country.
