New Delhi: India has taken a tough stand on the contentious agriculture issue in the WTO (World Trade Organisation) talks and asserted that there would be no compromise on issues that affected the livelihood concerns of millions of farmers in the Country.

"Developed countries must understand that (in Agriculture) we are battling not so much for trade as for subsistence and, therefore, we cannot compromise on subsistence, risking in the process, social and economic upheavals," Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said during his meeting with WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi in Geneva on Monday (July 26, 2004).

An "iniquitous" framework would not be acceptable to India, he said, adding that for developing countries no framework agreement would be better than a bad agreement that lacked equity and balance. Non-agreement would keep doors open for further negotiations.

The Minister said the core issue was of market access, which would not be provided unless the issue of high farm subsidies given by developed countries to their farmers was addressed.

"One is a trading consultancy constituency and the other is a subsistence constituency with meagre land holdings. These are two different constituencies and subsistence cannot be a subject to negotiations," he said.

The principles of special and differential treatment and effective cut in domestic support by developed countries would be important in ensuring a balanced text, the Minister said.

He, however, said India was committed to continued constructive engagement with its trade partners to seek an outcome, which would be acceptable to all.