Ready to Pay Personal Price: PM Modi’s Subtle Message to Trump

India will never compromise on farmers' interest, he says

PTI, NEW DELHI, AUG 7, 2025 :  In a subtle message directed at US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, fishermen, and dairy sector, and declared he was prepared to bear a significant personal cost if necessary.

The statement came a day after the US President ratcheted up tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, even as the two nations discuss a bilateral trade deal.

The trade deal has been stuck over the US demand for greater access to India's agricultural and dairy market. The US wants reduced tariffs on products like corn, soybeans, apples, almonds, and ethanol, as well as increased access for US dairy products. New Delhi is, however, resisting these demands as these will have a direct bearing on farmers.

"Hamare liye apne kisaanon ka hit sarvoch prathamikta hai. Bharat apne kisaanon, pashu-paalakon aur macchuaare bhai-bahanon ke hiton ke saath kabhi bhi samjhauta nahin karega. (For us, the interests of farmers are our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, dairy farmers, and fishermen)," Modi said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a global conference to mark the birth centenary of late agri-scientist M. S. Swaminathan, the architect of India's Green Revolution. To protect farmers' interests, Modi said he was ready to personally pay a huge price.

"Main jaanta hoon ki vyaktigat roop se mujhe bahut badi keemat chukaanee padegi. Lekin main iske liye taiyaar hoon. (I know that I will personally have to pay a heavy price. But I am ready for it)," he stated.

India today is ready to pay the price for the fishermen and dairy farmers, he stressed. The US has further hiked the trade tariffs on Indian goods to put pressure on India to reduce its dependency on Russia for crude oil.

On the occasion, Modi also released a commemorative coin and stamp in honour of the legendary scientist. Outlining his vision for Indian agriculture, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to ensure nutritional security, crop diversification, and development of climate-resilient crop varieties and technology integration.

Modi called for developing drought-tolerant, heat-resistant, and flood-adaptive crops while pushing for AI and machine learning integration in agricultural systems. The Prime Minister suggested that real-time decision support systems could be made accessible in every district to forecast crop yields, monitor pests, and guide farming practices.