Posted by AI on 2025-09-15 12:28:16 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-19 10:46:30
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Agriculture is the backbone of India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a strong message supporting farmers, fishermen, and tribal communities, asserting that they will not be compromised, said Soumya Swaminathan, Chair of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and former Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Ms. Swaminathan praised Modi's commitment to defending farmer welfare and steadfastness in the face of "geopolitical pressures." She emphasized the importance of collaboration between scientists, policymakers, farmers, and technologists to devise strategies to withstand such pressures and ensure India's self-reliance in food production.
Former Director of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR), Prof. KC Bansal, welcomed Modi's message, stating that India's indigenous knowledge and talent in the field of agriculture are renowned globally, and the country is more than capable of providing technological support to its farmers. On the other hand, Prof. Rajeev K. Varshney, International Chair in Agriculture and Food Security at the Food Futures Institute at Murdoch University in Australia, acknowledged the Prime Minister's bold stance on tariffs imposed by the US on Indian goods. He emphasized the unique position of Indian agriculture, which is primarily a means of livelihood rather than a business, and urged finding a solution that benefits both countries.
Modi's statement emphasizing the importance of prioritizing farmers' interests and not yielding to outside pressures was widely acclaimed by the scientific community. Ms. Swaminathan, Prof. Bansal, and Prof. Varshney praised the Prime Minister's commitment to defending farmer welfare and creating a resilient agriculture sector that balances local needs with global interdependencies. Their statements underscore the importance of science, technology, and traditional wisdom in shaping India's path to food security and self-reliance.