Overview

• Speaking at an IISER convocation on August 25, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said India has rejected pressure to open its market to foreign farm goods and will not sign any pact that harms farmers or fishermen.
• He referenced the U.S. decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent under President Donald Trump, presenting India as confident in defending its interests.
• Chouhan reported results from a review of bio‑stimulant products, saying only 642 were found effective and that many companies failed to submit samples for testing.
• He urged IISER graduates to develop farmer‑level devices to test the quality of pesticides and fertilizers to strengthen on‑field decision‑making.
• He amplified Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to buy indigenous products to support employment and the broader economy, criticizing a preference for imports.