By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Jeetu Patwari has raised serious concerns over the joint statement issued by the Union government on the proposed India–United States trade deal, questioning its implications for Indian farmers.
Addressing the issue in Bhopal, Patwari said that while Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sought to reassure farmers through meetings and statements, crucial details remain undisclosed. He pointed out that the product-wise tariff structure, non-tariff barrier conditions and the official impact assessment report have not been made public. “Farmers do not need speeches; they need facts and written guarantees,” he said.
Patwari highlighted the vast structural disparity between Indian and American agriculture. Citing official data, he said the average farm size in the US is around 440–450 acres, compared to just 2–2.5 acres in India. While only 1–2 per cent of the US population depends on farming, a large section of India’s population relies on agriculture directly or indirectly, making open competition inherently unequal.
He also drew attention to heavy farm subsidies in the US under programmes such as the Farm Bill, contrasting them with limited direct support to Indian farmers. He warned that lowering tariffs or easing non-tariff barriers would allow subsidised American produce to flood Indian markets, harming small farmers, particularly maize and soybean growers in Madhya Pradesh.
Patwari demanded written assurances that MSP would remain secure and that imports would not depress farmers’ incomes. He warned that if the deal is finalised without transparency, farmers across Madhya Pradesh would take to the streets in protest.
