Dairy sector in AP’s Chittoor district is set for a big leap
Muneppa (65) of Jangala Agraharam village in Palamaner Assembly constituency sits by a forest road leading to the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, watching his eight milch cows and a bull graze at a distance. His day begins at 3 a.m., when he milks his cattle and transports to a nearby collection centre over 20 litres of…
Cooperatives & Private Sector: Competing or Complementing?
India’s dairy sector stands on two strong but often polarised pillars—the cooperative movement and the private sector. Cooperatives continue to procure nearly 50% of organised milk, ensuring inclusion, scale, and price assurance for millions of farmers. The private sector, meanwhile, has driven growth in branded products, modern processing, and channel innovation. The debate is no…
J&K Rolls Out Multi-Crore Plan to Transform Dairy Sector
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has unveiled a fresh, multi-crore dairy initiative aimed at significantly boosting milk production, processing and value-addition across the Union Territory. The plan, finalised at a high-level review chaired by the Chief Secretary, envisions a seven-year roadmap (2026–27 to 2033–34) that seeks to integrate over five lakh dairy farmers into a modern,…
More Milk, Less Money: India’s Dairy Crisis
With the release of the BAHS 2025 summary report, I felt compelled to deep dive into its findings and reflect on the real progress and challenges facing India’s dairy sector. Over the last six years, India’s dairy sector has continued to consolidate its global leadership, even as deeper structural challenges around farmer incomes, sustainability, and…
India Stands Firm Against Dairy Sector Opening to Foreign Players
New Delhi will not capitulate to US demands for opening India’s markets to the American dairy industry with agricultural issues featuring among vexed subjects in the bilateral trade treaty negotiations, even as talks reach the much-anticipated culminating point. Experts support the government’s strong stand that has recently been reiterated by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. “The…
Women Power: India’s Dairy Sector Transformed
Women in India’s dairy industry are no longer just the backbone — they’re becoming the face of leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic change. From grassroots milk collection to boardroom decisions, Indian women in cooperatives and private dairies are leveraging their strengths to reshape the dairy sector. In Gujarat, more than 32% of the 36 lakh dairy…
India’s dairy sector sustains strong growth momentum
India’s dairy sector continues to evolve as one of the most dynamic components of the global food economy, according to a recent assessment by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), UK. Despite facing challenges like climate variability and rising production costs, India remains the world’s largest milk producer and consumer, accounting for nearly a…
Maharashtra forms panel to uplift dairy sector
The Maharashtra government has established a state-level committee aimed at enhancing dairy production and empowering farmers across the state. The committee will craft policies to improve milk yield, strengthen procurement systems, expand infrastructure (cold chain, chilling centers), and improve market access for rural cooperatives. Among its mandates is increased focus on technology adoption, breed improvement,…
GST Rationalization Boosts Dairy Sector; Most Products at nil or 5%
In a landmark move to strengthen India’s dairy sector, the 56th GST Council, in its meeting held on 3rd September 2025 approved sweeping tax rationalizations on milk and milk products. These reforms mark one of the most comprehensive overhauls of GST rates in the sector, ensuring that most dairy products are now either exempt from tax…
Punjab Dairy Sector Strengthened by Vet Varsity–PDFA Pact
Punjab’s dairy sector, one of India’s most vibrant milk belts, is set for a new growth wave as the state’s leading veterinary university joined hands with the Progressive Dairy Farmers’ Association (PDFA). This collaboration comes at a crucial time when India is consolidating its position as the world’s largest milk producer. Punjab accounts for a…