New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- The dairy sector has warned that the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) could upend the country's only steady source of farm income. The sector spelt out its stand during consultations with the commerce ministry on Wednesday.
Major dairy cooperatives said New Zealand's entry and possible duty-free imports of skimmed milk powder could price out 100 million farmers at a time when the economy is the midst of a worrying slowdown.
Additional secretary in the ministry Sudhanshu Pandey told participants, including top milk producers, that farmers' interests would be protected at all costs, as India prepares to be part of a grand regional free-trade agreement of 16 East Asian countries.
RCEP is a p...