India to take a tough stand on agriculture at WTO: Kamal Nath

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath has said they would take a tough stand on agriculture-related issues in the ongoing WTO negotiations.

India said on Monday it would take a tough stand on agriculture related issues in the ongoing WTO negotiations in a bid to protect the livelihood concerns of 650 million farmers in the country.

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"In the area of multilateral negotiations we are pledged to fully protect our national interests, especially of the farmers," new Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said in his maiden press conference after assuming office.

"India's agriculture sector is very particular to the country and cannot be compared to other G-20 developing countries," he said.

G-20 is a group of developing countries formed months before the Cancun Ministerial Summit to counter the pro-developed EU-US proposal on contentious agricultural matters.

While India would pursue the commonality of approach among developing countries it would at the same time do everything possible to protect the farmers and national interests in the WTO parleys, he added.