Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said India will not compromise on its national interest while negotiating with any country on a trade deal.
Addressing the 120th Annual General Meeting of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that while India believes in being "global brother" and is concerned about the world, the country's interest remains the top priority.
"Amid volatile geo-political situations where nations are fighting with each other, where trade and tariffs are treated as weapons, where nations are ruling the world at their whims... In such a situation, India has to choose its path. We will not come under pressure from anyone. Protecting our country's interest is our duty and it is necessary for global peace. A responsible country like India should rise," he said.
The minister highlighted that 46 per cent of India's population is directly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, making it crucial to strengthen the sector despite ongoing efforts to reduce this dependency.
"In the current situation, one cannot rely on the global market for food. Therefore, we have to become self-reliant," he said.
The minister also said that the government is working in six key areas, with a focus on raising productivity, he said.
"In rice and wheat, we are at the global average, but in pulses and oilseeds we lag. We should become self-reliant in pulses and edible oils," the minister said.
Chouhan also emphasised the need to strengthen mechanisation and food processing while keeping small farmers in mind, saying everyone has a role to play in building a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India).