Indian Farmers Protest US Trade Deal: Fears of Cheap Imports & Livelihood Threats

• Indian farmer unions, led by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), plan nationwide protests against an interim trade deal with the US.
• Farmers fear the deal, which reduces tariffs on US agricultural products, will flood Indian markets with cheap imports, threatening domestic agriculture, dairy, and rural livelihoods.
• Concerns include increased imports of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), duty-free cotton, and potential entry of GM foods and seeds.
• SKM warns of multinational corporations monopolizing animal feed and risks to soil fertility and biodiversity.
• The Indian government, through Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, assures that sensitive agricultural products like dairy and poultry are excluded, and farmer interests are protected.