Trump's GM Crop Push Puts Spotlight on Indian Farmers’ Struggles

 Trump's GM Crop Push Puts Spotlight on Indian Farmers’ Struggles

The Trump administration is once again pushing India to open its markets — this time for genetically modified (GM) soyabean and maize from the U.S. This demand comes with high stakes, as America exports billions of dollars' worth of these crops globally. Just soyabean exports alone are valued at over $24 billion, and maize brings in nearly $14 billion. When you add processed products like soyabean meal, maize-based ethanol, and distillers' grains, the total jumps to over $50 billion.

But the push isn’t just about trade. It’s also political. With Trump having swept votes in both the U.S. “corn belt” and “rust belt” — key regions for soyabean and maize production — he’s now under pressure to return the favor to his rural voter base. That means finding more overseas buyers for their produce.

For India, though, this creates a complicated situation. Economically, there’s a case to be made. U.S. soyabean yields are more than three times higher than India’s, making American produce far cheaper and more competitive. India already imports around 5 million tonnes of soyabean oil annually — so bringing in whole soyabeans and processing them locally could actually help Indian processors and reduce costs. Similarly, India’s demand for maize is growing, especially for use in animal feed and ethanol. Some Indian farmers, particularly in Bihar, do match U.S. maize yields — but not enough to meet rising demand.

The real hurdle isn’t economics — it’s politics. Soyabean and maize are grown on more than 25 million hectares of land in India, involving millions of farmers. Allowing large-scale imports could seriously hurt them, especially when they’re being asked to compete with U.S. farmers who are using cutting-edge GM technology to boost their yields.

Ironically, while Indian policymakers have blocked the use of similar technology domestically in the name of Swadeshi and environmental caution, those same policies have backfired. Once a net exporter of cotton, India is now an importer — all because of delayed or denied access to GM seeds. Now, with Trump turning up the heat on trade, the pressure only grows — adding insult to injury for India’s struggling farm sector.