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India's Farm Shield: How the Government Protects Farmers Amid Global Trade

The government is keeping a close watch on what comes in and goes out of the country's agricultural sector. A special committee monitors imports to spot trends that could affect our farmers or food security. To shield farmers, officials can recommend steps like higher import duties if needed. They're also actively helping farmers connect to international markets through training and export support.

Key Points: Govt Monitors Agri Imports Exports to Protect Farmers Says Minister

  • An Inter-Ministerial Committee closely watches essential agricultural commodity availability and market conditions
  • The government uses import duties and port restrictions to protect farmers from unnecessary imports
  • Support includes MSP procurement, Price Stabilisation Fund, and income schemes like PM-KISAN
  • APEDA provides financial aid and GAP certification to link farmers to global export markets
3 min read

Govt keeps a close eye on agricultural imports & exports to protect farmers: Minister

Minister Ramnath Thakur details government oversight on agricultural trade, MSP, and export support to safeguard farmers' interests from market volatility.

"The committee monitors any rise in imports to quickly identify trends that may influence domestic production, trade, or food security. - Minister Ramnath Thakur"

New Delhi, Dec 19

Parliament was informed on Friday that the Union government maintains continuous oversight over the country’s import and export activities and revises trade policies as necessary to safeguard domestic interests.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur said that for essential agricultural commodities, there is an Inter-Ministerial Committee which keeps a close and regular watch on essential agricultural commodities, analysing factors that affect their availability and market conditions.

He said that the committee also monitors any rise in imports to quickly identify trends that may influence domestic production, trade, or food security.

The minister said in order to protect the interests of farmers and reduce unnecessary imports, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) reviews the import of agricultural commodities and, when required, recommends measures such as import duties or port restrictions to the concerned Ministry or Department.

He said that the government supports farmers through several ongoing schemes and interventions, including the market intervention through procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism for notified crops, Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) operations for essential commodities such as onions to manage volatility and market intelligence and buffer stocking operations by Central agencies.

Besides, the government undertakes input and income support schemes, such as PM-KISAN, to cushion farmers from income fluctuations. These measures collectively aim to mitigate adverse impacts on farmers arising from market disruptions, he explained.

The Department of Commerce, through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), also provides financial assistance to its member exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) from across the country under the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Specifically with respect to linking farmers to global markets, APEDA provides financial assistance for the implementation and certification of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) through its registered exporters to enable them to meet the requirements of the importing countries with respect to the quality standards designated by them, the minister explained.

In addition to this, around 1080 capacity building/training programs have been carried out during 2025-26, across India, in association with the concerned State government agencies, with a specific focus for exporters, including FPOs/FPCs/SHGs, to provide linkage of the farmer groups to the export supply chain and to promote the entrepreneurs to become prospective exporters.

Finally, APEDA organised participation of its member exporters, including FPOs and FPC’s in major international food exhibitions and buyer-seller meets held abroad and in India, like World Food India, Indus Food, AAHAR in India and Gulf Food, the minister added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who works in agricultural trade, the focus on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification is the most important part here. It's the only way Indian farmers can access premium international markets. The training programs are a good start, but need to be scaled up massively.
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Priyanka N
My father is a farmer in Punjab. While these schemes sound good on paper, the reality is different. Price volatility for crops like onions and potatoes still ruins us. The committee must act faster when imports surge, not just "monitor." Action is what we need, not just watch.
A
Aman W
Connecting FPOs to global buyers through exhibitions is a brilliant move. Jai Kisan! 🇮🇳 We have the best mangoes, basmati rice, and spices in the world. Let the world taste Indian quality. Hope the financial assistance reaches the small farmers and isn't just for big exporters.
K
Karthik V
With all due respect to the Minister, there is often a big gap between policy and its field-level execution. The Inter-Ministerial Committee's findings and recommendations should be made more transparent to the public. How many times have import duties been revised based on their watch? Data would help build trust.
M
Michael C
Protecting domestic agriculture is important for food security everywhere. The model of supporting farmers while building export capacity is sensible. The key will be balancing protectionism with allowing enough competition to drive efficiency and innovation in the farming sector.

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