Why Amul’s Chief Says Trade Deals Won’t Hurt Indian Farmers

As India navigates sensitive trade negotiations with global partners, concerns have been growing among farmers — especially dairy producers — about whether foreign competition could hurt their livelihoods. Addressing these fears, Amul Managing Director Jayen Mehta has said that trade talks are “always a two-way process” and that Indian farmers’ interests will not be compromised.

Speaking on the issue, Mehta explained that India will not open its markets unconditionally. Any agreement, he said, must balance imports with exports and protect local producers. The cooperative model followed by Amul, which directly links millions of farmers to the market, remains central to India’s dairy economy.

The reassurance comes amid speculation that trade agreements could allow cheaper dairy imports, potentially impacting domestic prices. Amul, however, maintains that India’s scale, farmer-owned structure, and self-sufficiency give it strong leverage in negotiations.

In simple terms: trade talks don’t mean selling out farmers.

Why this matters: For Gen-Z and young Indians, this debate goes beyond policy jargon. Dairy is a livelihood issue for millions of rural families, and decisions taken in trade rooms can directly affect incomes, food prices, and rural stability.

There’s also a quiet power dynamic at play. While global trade often favours large corporations, India’s cooperative dairy model redistributes value back to producers rather than concentrating profits at the top.

Amul’s message is clear: trade deals will happen, but not at the cost of farmers who form the backbone of the rural economy. Whether this balance holds will depend on how firmly India negotiates when the final agreements are signed.