Indian farmers call nationwide strike over trade concessions to US
Samyukt Kisan Morcha says zero-tariff access for US farm goods threatens rural livelihoods and signals policy shift under Modi government
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (United Farmers’ Front) on Tuesday accused the Indian government of undermining domestic agriculture by agreeing to zero-percent import tariffs on American goods, particularly agricultural products, and announced a nationwide general strike later this month.
The farmers’ coalition said the decision amounts to a reversal of longstanding protections for Indian agriculture and warned that it would expose millions of small and marginal farmers to competition from heavily subsidized U.S. farm producers. The group has called for protests across the country, including demonstrations at local administrative centers, culminating in a general strike on Feb. 12.
In a statement, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha said the move contradicted earlier assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had publicly pledged to protect farmers’ interests. The platform said the policy shift reflected growing alignment with U.S. trade priorities at the expense of India’s rural economy.
India’s farm sector employs nearly half of the country’s workforce and supports close to two-thirds of its population through agriculture and allied activities. By contrast, the United States has a far smaller farming population, though its producers benefit from extensive government subsidies and export support. The farmers’ coalition said opening Indian markets under these conditions would place domestic producers at a structural disadvantage.
The group pointed to public comments from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who welcomed the agreement, saying it would allow U.S. producers to export more agricultural goods to India’s large consumer market and help reduce Washington’s agricultural trade deficit. According to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, these remarks underscore that the agreement primarily serves American commercial interests.
The coalition also criticized the broader political symbolism of the deal, linking it to what it described as a shift in India’s trade posture under the Modi government, which it says increasingly favors liberalized imports over domestic protection. The group said farmers across India would organize village-level meetings and outreach campaigns in the days leading up to the strike.
The announcement revives memories of the mass farmer protests that shook India between 2020 and 2021, when sustained mobilization forced the government to repeal controversial farm laws. Analysts note that renewed nationwide action by farmers could pose a political challenge for New Delhi as it balances trade diplomacy with domestic economic pressures.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha said its campaign is intended not only to oppose tariff changes but also to assert what it described as farmers’ role in safeguarding economic sovereignty and rural livelihoods.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
