Rajan Kshirsagar Ravula Venkaiah , President AIKS General Secretary AIKS
AIKS Press Release : 5 March 2026 In favor of urgent Publication
New Delhi, March 5, 2026: All India Kisan Sabha today issued a scathing indictment of the Modi government’s complicity in the US-Israel war on Iran, demanding an immediate and comprehensive relief package for millions of farmers, workers, and exporters whose livelihoods have been devastated by the conflict.
While the mainstream media obsesses over GDP percentages and trade deficits, the blood of Indian farmers is being spilled on the altar of American imperialism. The missiles that fell on Tehran have shattered the lives of Basmati growers in Haryana, banana farmers in Solapur, and grape cultivators in Maharashtra. This is not merely an economic shock; it is a direct consequence of the government’s decision to align with war criminals and open Indian agriculture to plunder via recent trade deals with the US. This unjust war has trigrred the crunch of crude oil supply along with other economic & stategic concerns. Due to the escalating war situation, a significant surge is being seen in crude oil prices. Brent crude prices have seen a major jump in the past week, reaching around $84. An increase of one dollar in crude oil prices raises India’s import expenditure by $2 billion. Amidst this, against the backdrop of economic stress created by the escalating war, the Indian rupee has witnessed significant volatility. On Thursday (March 5), due to the Reserve Bank’s intervention, the rupee has barely managed to hold at the 91.82 level, making imports even more expensive. The farming community is likely to bear the maximum brunt of the rising crude oil prices. The crisis in oil availability directly impacts the production of fertilizers, which are essential for farmers. If the government does not increase the provision for fertilizer subsidy, there is a risk that fertilizer prices will remain at elevated levels in the upcoming season, further adding to farmers’ production costs.
The war has choked the Strait of Hormuz, a lifeline for Indian agriculture through which 56% of our merchandise exports must pass. Overnight, the potential income of millions has turned into trapped debt. The government’s response—mere “monitoring” of the situation—is a betrayal of the highest order. The Carnage in Numbers: A Snapshot of the Crisis
The following data, compiled from affected farmers and exporters, reveals the true scale of the disaster: • Basmati Rice: 400,000 tonnes (worth 3,200 crore) are stranded—200,000 tonnes at ports and ₹ 200,000 tonnes at sea. Farm-gate prices have crashed by nearly 6% in four days, wiping out the income of 2.5 to 3 million farmer families.
Our Demands: Justice for Farmers, Workers, and Exporters
The government cannot hide behind hollow budget allocations. Farmers need cash in hand today. All India Kisan Sabha demand the following immediate and long-term measures:
Immediate Relief Package
6. Compensation Fund for Laborers: Establish a special fund to provide immediate financial assistance of 10,000 per month to porters, loaders, and agricultural laborers who have lost ₹ employment due to halted operations.
Long-Term Policy Demands
Conclusion: A Movement is Coming
The pain from the Strait of Hormuz is felt in every Indian village. If the government continues to sacrifice Indian farmers for the sake of American imperialism, the farmers of India will launch a movement far bigger than that of 2020-21.