Firm on agri issues while aiming for permanent solution at WTO: Sitharaman

India will stay firm on agricultural issues, including public stockholding of food crops and providing subsidies to farmers, while aiming for a permanent solution at the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) talks, commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed on Monday.

Barely a week before WTO's 10th ministerial conference is set to start in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, Sitharaman stayed tough saying, "India needs to have enough instruments in hand to protect its poor against sudden changes in food prices".

She also demanded the Doha development agenda, agreed upon in 2003 to work towards improving the trading prospects of developing countries, be respected and continued. No major changes have been institutionalised in past 14 years, is extremely disappointing

Developed nations at WTO - including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union, oppose public stockholding of food crops and want India to cap the minimum support price (MSP) paid to farmers, as well as limit input subsidies currently given for fertiliser, seeds, pesticides and irrigation.

Developed countries have, however, refused to lower high levels of targeted agricultural subsidies provided to their farmers. "The repeated refusal by developed bloc to discuss this issue led to considerable frustration amongst the developing nations," said Sitharaman. The Trade Facilitation Agreement, signed by India in 2014, allows it to maintain its food buffer stocks till a permanent solution is found.