Image Source: Agencies

Aug 7, 2025: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that he is willing to pay any price to protect the interests of its farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers. "The interests of farmers are our top priority. The interests of dairy farmers, fishermen, and farmers who fish will never be sacrificed in India. I believe, personally, I will have to pay the price, and I am ready for that," the PM said.

"Our goals, and we are constantly working toward these goals," he stated. "Raising the income of farmers, reducing the cost in agriculture, and creating new avenues for income generation are our goals." Modi, in his first remarks after Trump penalized India for buying Russian oil, said he was aware of the personal cost he would have to pay for standing up for farmers and was ready to pay it. He was speaking at a three-day global conference to commemorate the birthday of the late agri-scientist MS Swaminathan.

The United States of America has announced a further 50 percent tariff increase on Indian goods, including agricultural products. In honor of the legendary scientist, Modi also issued a commemorative stamp and coin. Swaminathan was a well-known Indian geneticist and agricultural scientist. He was also known as the "Father of the Green Revolution" in India because he helped introduce high-yielding wheat varieties and modern farming methods into Indian agriculture in the 1960s. His work helped farmers in India escape poverty and significantly increased food production. Swaminathan was born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam and passed away on September 28, 2023, in Chennai, at the age of 98.