FTAs with Australia, NZ to hurt Indian dairy sector
Monday, 22 March 2010
NEW DELHI, Mar 21 (PTI): Free-trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand would jeopardise India's problem- ridden domestic milk and its products sector, the Indian Dairy Association has said.
"The proposed Free-Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand are being signed without realising its impact on livestock production in India. It will jeopardise the sector," Indian Dairy Association President N R Bhasin told PTI here.
Bhasin said it would be very difficult for Indian farmers to compete with those in Australia and New Zealand as these two have small population, but a large area and better method of production.
"How will you compete with them? You can't. India's acreage for livestock fodder crop has remained constant at 4.7 per cent in India in the last 50 years," Bhasin said, adding no attempts were made by the government to enhance the area though the fodder requirement was on the rise.
India has placed dairy products in the list of sensitive items and continuously monitors their imports to assess impact on the domestic sector.
Imports of milk and its products rose by a whopping 900 per cent in the first eight months of the fiscal to Rs 158.42 crore from a meagre Rs 15.87 crore in April-November 2008.
"The proposed Free-Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand are being signed without realising its impact on livestock production in India. It will jeopardise the sector," Indian Dairy Association President N R Bhasin told PTI here.
Bhasin said it would be very difficult for Indian farmers to compete with those in Australia and New Zealand as these two have small population, but a large area and better method of production.
"How will you compete with them? You can't. India's acreage for livestock fodder crop has remained constant at 4.7 per cent in India in the last 50 years," Bhasin said, adding no attempts were made by the government to enhance the area though the fodder requirement was on the rise.
India has placed dairy products in the list of sensitive items and continuously monitors their imports to assess impact on the domestic sector.
Imports of milk and its products rose by a whopping 900 per cent in the first eight months of the fiscal to Rs 158.42 crore from a meagre Rs 15.87 crore in April-November 2008.