Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
| Photo Credit:
SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
The Government has said that it undertakes negotiations for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) only after carefully safeguarding the interests of Indian agriculture sector.
Replying to a question in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, said: “India is a net agricultural exporter. Government undertakes negotiations for FTAs only after carefully safeguarding the interests of Indian agriculture, allied sectors and farmers, including small and marginal farmers. Adequate safeguards are built in to protect sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy from unfair competition.”
He was replying to a question on whether the Government has assessed concerns of farmers’ organisations that proposed FTAs, including with the US, may adversely affect Indian agriculture and the dairy sector.
On the demands of farmer unions, he said the issues relating to farmers are addressed proactively and expeditiously by the Government to ensure their socio-economic well-being.
Talks with farmers body
After the repeal of the three Farm Laws in 2021, the Government held seven rounds of discussions in two phases with Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha at the level of Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister. First discussion was held on February 8, 2024. Subsequently, discussions were held on February 12, 15 and 18 2024; February 14 and 22 2025; and March 19 2025.
“Through sustained dialogue, most of the issues, such as, issues relating to the Electricity Amendment Bill; setting up of national commissions for chilli, turmeric and other spices; rights of tribal communities over water, forest and land under the Fifth Schedule; stricter punishment for manufacture of fake / spurious seeds, fertilisers and pesticides; and rationalisation of penal provisions related to paddy-straw burning etc., have been addressed,” he said.
Farmers’ unions’ concerns relating to rural employment and farm incomes have been addressed under the newly enacted Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Grameen). Under the Act, guaranteed wage employment per rural household has been enhanced from 100 days to 125 days per financial year, with provision for unemployment allowance if work is not provided.
To ensure availability of labour for agricultural operations, State governments have been empowered to notify a pause in wage employment works for up to 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, he said.
Farm debt
Replying to a separate query on outstanding farm debt, Chouhan cited the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households conducted by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation during NSS 77th round (January 2019 – December 2019) in the rural areas of the country. He said the average amount of outstanding loan per agricultural household across the country was ₹74,121.
The Government has disbursed over ₹4.09 lakh crore through 21 instalments since the inception of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The 21st instalment of PM-KISAN scheme was released on November 19, 2025 and more than 9.34 crore farmers received the benefits, he said.
Agri growth rate
To a question on growth rate of agriculture sector in the country, Ramnath Thakur, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, said the gross value added (GVA) percentage in the agriculture and allied sector, including crops, livestock, fisheries and horticulture, registered a growth of 10.4 per cent during 2024-25, as per the provisional estimates of GVA.
The examination / assessment of the key factors influencing agricultural growth, including farm incomes, input costs, climate variability, irrigation coverage, access to credit and market linkages is a continuous process which is done through various studies undertaken from time to time, field-level visits by officers and high-level periodic meetings / reviews, he said.
Published on February 3, 2026