Current dairy policies and trade rules create an uneven playing field globally. Rich-country producers remain protected (through subsidies and quotas) while preaching sustainability. Their own diets and consumption levels drive dairy demand, yet they often blame developing countries for emissions from low-input farming. India and similar economies face a difficult choice: either reduce the number of livestock or completely change thousands of rural livelihoods to meet Western climate standards – both options are politically and socially challenging. At the same time, Indian dairy farmers would be at a severe disadvantage if tariffs fell, as they could not compete with cheaper subsidised imports. In short, the "sustainability" argument is used both as a market strategy and a diplomatic lever. As one analysis notes, Western dairy giants produce more emissions than many entire countries, yet focus scrutiny on smallholder systems abroad. Without more equitable consideration of local livelihoods and true carbon footprints (including co?benefits of grazing systems), global trade and climate discussions risk unfairly penalizing low-income nations. Any future trade or climate accords on dairy must balance emissions concerns with the reality that for billions of people-especially India's rural poor-milk is food security and income security. It is time for India to thoughtfully integrate our dairy sector into the global trade landscape. However, any move towards opening the market must be carefully considered and strategically planned to ensure that the interests of our dairy farmers-who form the backbone of rural livelihoods-are fully safeguarded. Our commitment to protecting these communities must remain at the heart of every decision.
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