Bajwa urges farmers to unite against Indo-US trade deal

Chandigarh: Leader of opposition in Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday warned that the proposed Indo-US trade deal could severely damage the livelihoods of India's farmers, particularly in Punjab, by exposing them to unfair competition from heavily subsidised American agriculture.He called upon the farmers across the country to unite once again to safeguard their economic future and demand protection from policies that undermine their survival.Bajwa pointed out that the American farmers received some of the highest levels of govt support in the world. Large commercial farms in the US receive direct yearly payments of nearly Rs 60 lakh, while even intermediate and part-time farmers get Rs 7-11 lakh annually. Beyond these direct payments, the US govt spends between Rs 2.7 lakh crore and Rs 4.5 lakh crore every year on farm support through crop insurance subsidies, price guarantees, export incentives, disaster bailouts, and ultra-cheap credit systems, he said."In America, farmers do not fear crop failure or price crashes because the govt protects their income. Yet Indian farmers are being asked to compete in a so-called ‘free market' without similar safeguards. This is not free trade, this is a structured disadvantage for Indian agriculture," said Bajwa.The Congress leader warned that opening Indian markets to cheap, highly subsidised US agricultural products could lead to a collapse in farm prices, hurting Punjab's wheat, maize, cotton, and dairy farmers. "When a farmer in the US gets massive income support and export incentives, and an Indian farmer struggles even for a legal MSP guarantee, how can there be a level playing field?" he asked.Bajwa also criticised the Union govt for failing to legally guarantee MSP while moving towards trade arrangements that may weaken existing procurement and price support systems. "The same govt that labels support for Indian farmers as ‘freebies' is ready to sign deals with a country that spends lakhs of crores protecting its own farmers," he added.Calling for unity, Bajwa urged farmers' unions, agricultural workers, and rural stakeholders across India to stand together. "This is not just about Punjab, it is about the survival of India's agrarian economy. Farmers must once again unite peacefully and democratically to ensure that no trade deal snatches away their livelihoods or dignity," he said.MSID:: 127995228 413 |