The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has issued a strong condemnation of the recently announced India-US trade agreement, labeling it a profound betrayal of the nation's farming community. The farmers' organization expressed outrage over the provision allowing a 0% import tariff on US agricultural goods, characterizing this move as a complete surrender to what they term "US imperialism" and its economic pressures.
Nationwide Protest Campaign Announced
In response to what they perceive as a devastating trade arrangement, SKM has announced an extensive campaign of opposition against the Union government. This mobilization will unfold across villages throughout India from February 4th to February 11th. The planned actions include the symbolic burning of effigies representing both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump, serving as a powerful visual protest against the bilateral agreement.
Coordinated General Strike Planned
The protest activities will culminate in participation in a general strike scheduled for February 12th. This coordinated action aims to demonstrate the widespread discontent among agricultural communities and their supporters regarding the trade deal's potential consequences for India's farming sector.
Contradiction with Previous Promises
SKM leaders pointedly recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's declaration from August 15, 2025, made at the historic ramparts of the Red Fort. During that address, the Prime Minister had publicly committed to being personally willing to "pay a heavy price" to safeguard farmers' interests. The organization now questions this commitment, suggesting that agreeing to zero import taxes on US agricultural products represents a bowing down to what they describe as the "diktats" of US leadership, rather than a protection of domestic farmers.
Potential Devastation for Indian Agriculture
The trade agreement, according to SKM analysis, will permit Indian markets to be inundated with highly subsidized agricultural products from the United States. This influx, they warn, could have catastrophic effects on the livelihoods of crores of small and middle-scale farming households across India. The organization emphasizes the stark disparity in agricultural scale between the two nations, highlighting that the United States reported approximately 18.8 lakh farmers in a 2024 survey, while India's agricultural census from 2015 recorded a staggering 14.65 crore operational holdings.
This numerical comparison underscores SKM's central argument: that the trade deal disproportionately benefits a relatively small number of American agricultural producers at the potential expense of India's vast and vulnerable farming population. The organization's condemnation reflects deep-seated concerns about food sovereignty, economic fairness, and the survival of traditional agricultural practices in the face of globalized trade pressures.
