2500 new dairy cooperatives to be formed under Nand Baba Milk Mission in six months
Farmers to receive timely payment for milk procurement; infrastructure development for milk processing units also proposed
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Dharmpal Singh, announced a major push for increasing milk production in the state, highlighting that Uttar Pradesh remains the country’s top milk-producing state. In a review meeting held today at the Vidhan Sabha, the minister emphasized the need to expand the number of functional dairy cooperatives and revive inactive ones.
Singh instructed that no existing cooperative should be shut down under any circumstances. He said that as part of the Nand Baba Dugdh Mission, the government aims to establish 2,500 new dairy cooperative societies within the next six months. He also stressed the importance of ensuring timely payment to farmers and livestock rearers for milk procurement.
“Increasing milk production plays a vital role in poverty alleviation, employment generation, and boosting economic activity. Strengthening the dairy sector will directly contribute to the state’s vision of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy,” he added.
The minister also reviewed various government initiatives under the Nand Baba Dugdh Mission, including the Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, Mukhyamantri Swadeshi Go-Sanvardhan Yojana, formation of dairy cooperatives, and Mukhyamantri Pragatisheel Pashupalak Protsahan Yojana. He directed officials to promote these schemes more widely and ensure greater public participation.
He also called for the establishment of necessary infrastructure to support new milk processing units and instructed the marketing of Parag dairy products be given special focus. Officers were told to regularly visit and monitor dairy cooperatives.
Currently, out of 19,046 registered cooperatives in the state, 7,857 are active. Under the district planning initiative, 220 new cooperatives have been formed and 450 have been restructured. The state’s average milk procurement per day stands at 404.34 LKGPD, a 34% increase over last year. Liquid milk sales average 1.91 LLPD daily. Between August 27, 2024 and May 1, 2025, officials inspected 5,598 cooperatives—3,928 active and 1,670 inactive.
Singh emphasized that healthy competition among milk producers and proper care of dairy animals should be encouraged through regular awareness and reward programs. He also called for training initiatives to raise awareness among both producers and consumers.
Principal Secretary, Dairy Development, K. Ravindra Naik assured full compliance with the Chief Minister’s vision and the minister’s directives. “All efforts will be made to ensure timely payment to farmers and to increase the number of active dairy societies,” he said.
The meeting was attended by PCDCF Managing Director Vaibhav Srivastava, Special Secretary (Dairy Development) Ram Sahay Yadav, PCDCF Coordinator Dr. Manoj Tiwari, and other senior officials from the department.
