Union Agriculture Minister Shri Ajit Singh has
assured that the interests of Indian farmers will be protected
while negotiating the new WTO Agreement on agriculture. He was
addressing a meeting of the representatives of political parties,
NGOs and farmers’ organizations on WTO Agreement on agriculture
here today. He said that such discussions assume much more importance
because there is now greater awareness in the country about the
WTO Agreement than before and building of a consensus on various
issues related to it is essential. Shri Ajit Singh said there
is a general opinion that the WTO Agreement on agriculture has
not done justice to Indian farmers, yet getting out of WTO will
not solve any problem. We will have to figure out the country’s
agricultural scenario for the next 15 years and negotiate accordingly,
he added. The Agriculture Minister was of the view that the limitations
put by WTO are not so much of a problem for India as the lack
of resources to provide the same level of subsidy as the developed
nations. Shri Singh said since many countries have hardened their
positions and do not want to give up on their strength, India
would have to tread cautiously on the negotiations. He said the
goal of present re-negotiation is further liberalization of trade
in agriculture commodities i.e. reduction in domestic subsidies,
reduction in import duties and elimination of export subsidies.
The Minister of State for Commerce, Shri Rajiv
Pratap Rudy and senior officials of Agriculture Ministry also
participated in the Meeting.
Under Article 20 of the Agreement, a review of
the Agreement which came into effect from 1.1.1995 has been undertaken.
The negotiations have now reached the crucial third phase and
modalities of the Agreement are likely to be decided by the end
of this year.
