INDIAN farmers have planned a nationwide protest starting this week to demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi keep agriculture out of a 16-nation trade agreement currently being negotiated in Thailand, reports Bloomberg.
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, an umbrella organisation of about 250 farmers unions from across the country, said that they will burn effigies depicting the China-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP, to mark their protest and warn the government.
Indian farmers won't be able to compete should the country agree to cut duties for agricultural and dairy products in the proposed trade pact, said VM Singh, a convener of the farmers' group. Imports of dairy and agricultural products including wheat, cotton and oil seeds would affect the livelihood of millions of Indian farmers, he said.
The government should defer signing of the agreement and hold consultations with farmers, state governments and other stake holders before taking a final decision, said Mr Singh. 'We have to stop RCEP,' he said.
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The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, an umbrella organisation of about 250 farmers unions from across the country, said that they will burn effigies depicting the China-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP, to mark their protest and warn the government.
Indian farmers won't be able to compete should the country agree to cut duties for agricultural and dairy products in the proposed trade pact, said VM Singh, a convener of the farmers' group. Imports of dairy and agricultural products including wheat, cotton and oil seeds would affect the livelihood of millions of Indian farmers, he said.
The government should defer signing of the agreement and hold consultations with farmers, state governments and other stake holders before taking a final decision, said Mr Singh. 'We have to stop RCEP,' he said.
WORLD SHIPPING