Won’t trade off farmer interests, ready to pay personal price: PM
A day after US President Donald Trump doubled the tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent, PM Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government would never compromise on the interests of farmers, livestock rearers and fishermen, even if it meant bearing personal consequences.
“I am fully aware I may have to pay a very heavy price personally, but I am prepared. For us, the interests of farmers are paramount,” the PM said at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference here.
The US wants tariffs on products such as corn, soybeans, apples, almonds and ethanol brought down as well as increased access for its dairy products. New Delhi is, however, resisting these demands as these will affect farmers. Trump on Wednesday announced additional 25 per cent tariffs — the earlier 25 per cent came into effect from August 7 — on Indian goods over Russian oil purchase, taking the total to 50 per cent. India called the move “extremely unfortunate”.
The conference where the PM spoke was organised to mark the birth centenary of late agri-scientist Swaminathan, the architect of India’s Green Revolution.
Hailing Swaminathan as a scientist whose contributions transcended generations and borders, PM Modi said, “He transformed science into a medium of public service. He emphasised the need to ensure nutritional security and crop diversification. He called for developing drought-tolerant, heat-resistant and flood-adaptive crops while pushing for integration of technology in agriculture.”
To honour the late scientist’s legacy, Modi announced the MS Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace, which will be given to individuals from developing countries contributing significantly to food security. The inaugural recipient is Nigerian agricultural economist Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
Citing India’s strides in agri-production—from topping the global charts in milk, pulses and jute to ranking second in rice, wheat and fisheries—Modi said the nation was now entering a new era focused on nutritional security, crop diversification and climate adaptation.
The Prime Minister also urged scientists to mentor agri-tech startups, develop real-time decision-making tools using AI and satellite data, and promote sustainable practices like natural farming and micro-irrigation.
“Dr Swaminathan taught us that agriculture is not just about crops, but life itself,” Modi said, calling for deeper integration of traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science to secure India’s farming future.
The PM 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 was turning into a global priority, it was evident how far-sighted Swaminathan 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.
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