One, Indian farmers have been reeling under distress for a long time — almost three decades, in the rapidly restructuring economy. This year’s budget, coupled with the India-US trade deal, does not inspire confidence that the agrarian economy will cope with impending challenges. First, small farmers — 90% of Indian farmers have holdings less than a hectare — will not be able to compete in global markets in the face of growing imports. India has also committed to soybean oil imports. Indeed, we import nearly 15 million tonnes of edible oil (nearly 60% of our domestic demand) to meet the rising demand, and even that approach was abhorrent.

Source: The Telegraph February 13, 2026 02:36 UTC