‘Agriculture must be kept out of FTA’

Farmer organisations are up in the arms against the RCEP. What is the plan in case the government does go ahead?

Our protests are continuing and will intensify. We want the agriculture sector in India to be out of the RCEP. If the government persists, we will intensify our protest.

Also read:

• How RCEP ‘deal’ tomorrow can hit India, or be a hit
• Why Sangh affiliate’s opposition suits BJP
• Small, medium units in panic
• ‘Fears of milk products, seeds being dumped’
• The pact would be suicidal: Jairam
• What can happen
• AT CROSSROADS: How crucial sectors fear they would fare if deal is on

Dairy appears to be your biggest worry. Aren’t consumers entitled to pure and safe milk?

An impression had been created through a malicious campaign that India is short of milk and that everywhere in India people are drinking contaminated milk. I agree the problem (of contaminated/spurious milk) exists, but only in some parts. The government should take strict punitive action against these unscrupulous rogue elements, but why is it punishing the entire industry? 

New Zealand, the biggest producer of milk, has surplus, and the companies managed by China are looking for a market for this surplus. Indian negotiators have wrong figures on the cost of production of milk in India. Their cost of production is less than ours.

What about the consumers?

The Indian dairy industry is in deep stress. Besides, farmers are also consumers. As I said, there is a problem of spurious/adulteration but only in some parts of Uttar Pradesh. Why is the government not cracking down on them? In Gujarat, where there is a strong system of milk production and management, there is no such problem. — VS