The Centre has launched a cooperative-led initiative, “White Revolution 2.0”, aimed at expanding cooperative coverage in the dairy sector, generating employment and strengthening women’s empowerment, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Cooperation, seeks to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50 per cent from the present level over the next five years by providing market access to dairy farmers in uncovered areas and increasing the share of dairy cooperatives in the organised sector.
In absolute terms, milk procurement by dairy cooperatives is expected to reach 1,007 lakh kg per day by the end of 2028–29, the fifth year of implementation. The target will be achieved through a two-pronged strategy focusing on expanding the coverage of dairy cooperatives and deepening their reach.
The programme also addresses issues of malnutrition through a series of activities under White Revolution 2.0. These include the setting up and strengthening of around 1.20 lakh new and existing Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), Multipurpose Dairy Cooperative Societies (M-DCS) and Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS). The cooperatives will be linked with milk routes through the expansion of existing routes or the creation of new ones.
The initiative also предусматриes providing enabling infrastructure such as Automatic Milk Collection Units, Data Processing Milk Collection Units, milk testing equipment and Bulk Milk Coolers, as per requirement, to support dairy activities.
The activities under White Revolution 2.0 are being funded through the National Dairy Development Programme 2.0 (NPDD 2.0) of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. NPDD 2.0 will be implemented in accordance with guidelines issued by the department.
Under the initiative, 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies are proposed to be set up in uncovered areas, while 46,422 existing DCSs will be strengthened to enhance market access, income opportunities and nutritional availability.
Highlighting the role of women in the dairy sector, the Centre said women perform critical tasks including milking, feeding, cattle management and ensuring animal health. Nearly 70 per cent of the workforce in dairy farming consists of women, though their contribution often remains undervalued due to the largely unorganised nature of the sector.
The Centre noted that women-led dairy cooperatives have emerged as an effective tool for empowerment. By establishing DCSs in every uncovered panchayat or village under White Revolution 2.0, more women dairy farmers will be brought under the organised dairy cooperative framework, strengthening women’s economic and social empowerment.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
