Soon after India's withdrawal from the RCEP or Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, New Zealand - an prominent partner of the mega trade bloc has extended its help for best practices in the dairy sector by providing latest technology & systems.
New Zealand’s Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth, Damien O’Connor, during his 3-day visit to the country, engaged with Amul at the milk capital of India, Anand. It tried to understand India's cooperative structure as well as functioning of the dairy market in the country.
Damien hinted that New Zealand will keep exploring Indian dairy market with the right products at right time using country's milk with advanced technology. On a question whether New Zealand consider India as a potential market, the Minister said, “Our countries share many similarities in legal systems and cultural background. About 5% of our population in New Zealand is Indian. So, we believe it is a market we must talk to. Also, there is an opportunity for more trade with India.”
Damien, who is also the Agriculture Minister held meeting with the Indian dairy farmers and visited Amul’s milk product manufacturing facilities around Anand.
He said, “Though small, at about 2% of the world's total dairy output - it is based on cooperatives. And that has delivered benefits to our farmers & allowed our industry to develop. I am sure the same thing that we see today (at Amul) will allow growth for Amul & Indian dairy industry”.
It must be noted that during the previous negotiations for a RCEP deal, Indian farmers, led by milk federations & dairy organizations had expressed apprehensions about discarding dairy products by key producers like New Zealand. But, denying any such threat, the Minister said that the quantity of dairy products that will “come to India will be very small.”
Managing Director of ‘Amul’ marketer Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, RS Sodhi said the two sides have explored collaboration in artificial insemination, processing, tagging & other aspects of dairy system & challenges where New Zealand has superior technology to deal with them.
Sodhi said, “The deliberations were held regarding potential areas for cooperation for mutual benefit. New Zealand is very advanced in feeding & breeding practices & these are areas where they can provide help. We can boost animal productivity with the technology & methods adopted by them”.
As a pilot project for mutual engagement on dairy assistance, New Zealand’s dairy farmers are presently working with some Indian farmers in Sonepat, where about 300 milch cross-breed cows are being maintained via standards set by New Zealand. This pilot also supplies a small quantity of milk to Delhi at present.
In addition, there is a joint collaboration between New Zealand's cooperative dairy, Fonterra & India's Future Group that uses Indian milk to develop & supply high-value consumer products through Fonterra's technology.
