FTAs Can Unlock India's Dairy Export Potential

India, the world's largest milk producer, has the opportunity to transform itself into a leading global dairy exporter by using Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) not only as a tool for protecting domestic farmers but also for improving international competitiveness, according to industry experts.

While India's dairy sector has traditionally remained outside the scope of most FTAs to safeguard millions of smallholder farmers, experts believe future trade agreements should also focus on enhancing export capabilities through improved quality standards, modern processing infrastructure, greater productivity, traceability and better access to global markets.

They argue that a balanced strategy is essential—continuing to protect farmers from unfair import competition while investing in value-added dairy products and globally accepted food safety and quality systems. Strengthening cold-chain infrastructure, increasing processing efficiency and aligning Indian dairy products with international market requirements could significantly expand the country's share in global dairy trade.

The industry believes that shifting from a protection-led approach to a competitiveness-driven strategy will enable India to leverage FTAs for long-term export growth while maintaining the resilience of its domestic dairy ecosystem. (m.economictimes.com)

Source: Dairynews7x7 04 Aug, 2026 Read full story here

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