Narendra Modi vows to protect Indian Farmers to the maximum extent.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi have pledged to do whatever it takes to safeguard the interests of Indian farmers, a day after President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods, with pressure mounting on New Delhi to open up its markets to US exports.

“For us, our farmers’ interests are top priority”, Modi said to applause at a conference in New Delhi Thursday. “India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers, herders, and fishermen. And I know that, personally, I will have to pay a heavy price for this — but I am ready for it”.

Narendra Modi’s commitment comes at a time when the United States wants greater market access for its dairy products and genetically modified crops. It underscores India’s efforts to protect a politically-sensitive sector, while managing stalled trade talks and potential domestic backlash. The government is constantly working to boost farmer incomes, lower cultivation costs, and diversify their sources of livelihood, Modi said, without making any direct reference to Trump’s move to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 50% as a penalty for India’s Russian oil purchases.

The world’s top milk producer and the second-biggest grower of rice, wheat, sugar and cotton doesn’t allow cultivation of GM food crops, even though those varieties can boost yields. The commercial release of genetically altered mustard has been stalled due to a legal challenge in the country’s top court, and in 2010, the government rejected a GM variety of brinjal, or eggplant.

India is weighing to ease some dairy market access rules for the US, as currently, India prohibits the import of dairy products if the cattle were given feed made from animal-derived ingredients. The country has a Hindu majority, and cows are considered as sacred. Moreover, the farmers are a major voting bloc in the most-populous nation, where millions of smallholders own less than 2 hectares (5 acres) of land.

“For the farmers of my country, for the fishermen of my country, for the livestock rearers of my country — today India is ready.”

Team Maverick