New Delhi: As India navigates a landmark trade agreement with the United States, the high-stakes balancing act between global market access and rural economic security has taken center stage. Jayen Mehta, Managing Director of Amul (GCMMF), recently sat down to address the “global graduation” of India’s dairy sector. In an exclusive interview with News9 he assured that the foundation of the Indian farmer remains unshakeable even as the nation eyes a third of the world’s milk production.
Protecting world’s largest agricultural crop
In a strong endorsement of the government’s diplomatic strategy, Mehta expressed deep gratitude to the Prime Minister for safeguarding the dairy sector in the recently concluded India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
“Milk is the largest agricultural crop of our country. Its output value is greater than wheat, paddy, and oilseeds combined,” Mehta told News9. He dismissed fears of an “import invasion,” clarifying that the specific items allowed for import under the new deal are negligible and do not pose a threat to the domestic economy. For Mehta, the deal represents a victory for “protection without isolation.”
White Revolution 2.0
While White Revolution 1.0 made India the world’s top producer, version 2.0 is about depth, inclusion, and organization. The roadmap for the next decade is staggering. According to Mehta, India is projected to produce one-third (33 per cent) of the total global milk supply within the next 10 years.
He said that the mission aims to bring more villages and more farmers, specifically focusing on women, into the organised cooperative fold. Mehta stressed that during the times when consumers shift from unorganised “loose” milk to packaged, branded products, the cooperative model provides the necessary scale to capture this value for the farmer.
Mantra is “Cooperation before competition”
Mehta highlighted that the perishable nature of milk makes the cooperative model the only viable path for India’s 8 crore (80 million) dairy-dependent families. While global giants look at India’s massive consumer base with envy, Mehta believes India’s strength lies in its unique structure.
“Cooperation before competition is India’s dairy mantra,” he stated. This philosophy has already propelled Amul, owned by 36 lakh farmers in Gujarat, to be ranked as the world’s strongest food and dairy brand and the #1 cooperative globally.
Ready for the world stage
Far from being afraid of international competition, Mehta pointed out that India is already a formidable global player. Amul currently exports to over 50 countries, going head-to-head with the world’s most established brands.
“We have acquired scale through the cooperative model over several decades,” Mehta said. “Global competition is there, but we are already competing and winning.”
“The kind of items which have been allowed for imports also do not matter too much for our country economy and particularly the dairy sector,” he added.