On the other hand, the crops subsector has recorded just 2.8 per cent annual increase. It’s not for nothing that the nearly-sealed India-US bilateral trade agreement has met with a varied response. The poultry, dairy and aqua industries have largely welcomed it, while soyabean, maize and even sugarcane growers and processors won’t be as happy. That, and India not giving concessions to American dairy or poultry product imports, makes this an unquestionably good deal for the animal husbandry sector. Any analysis of the impact of policy — whether trade or subsidies and cash transfers — on “agriculture” must look at different subsectors and the predominant farmer types engaged in each of these.

Source: Indian Express February 16, 2026 14:32 UTC