New Delhi, April 22, 2025 – In a significant step towards reinforcing India’s dairy ecosystem, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, convened the Milk Situation Review Meeting at the Civil Services Officers Institute (CSOI), New Delhi. The meeting brought together key stakeholders from across the dairy value chain, including policymakers, representatives from dairy cooperatives, private sector players, researchers, and state-level officials, to deliberate on the current status and emerging challenges in milk production, procurement, and distribution.
The event commenced with an insightful opening address by Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, DAHD, Government of India, who eloquently laid the groundwork for the day’s deliberations. Her remarks underscored the urgency of adopting data-backed and collaborative strategies to address the evolving dynamics of India’s dairy sector while also reaffirming the government’s commitment to empowering rural dairy farmers and improving systemic efficiencies through cooperative development.
Assessing the Current Dairy Landscape
Ms. Joshi began her address by acknowledging India’s unmatched leadership in global milk production. However, she emphasized that with great scale comes the responsibility to ensure quality, affordability, sustainability, and inclusivity. She highlighted a series of challenges that the sector is currently grappling with, such as inconsistent procurement patterns, regional imbalances in milk supply, rising input costs, lack of cold chain infrastructure in rural pockets, and gaps in real-time data collection and forecasting.
“While India continues to be the world’s largest producer of milk, we must also acknowledge the growing complexities of the supply chain and the need for resilient systems that can respond to fluctuations in demand, climate stressors, and market disruptions,” she noted.
Ms. Joshi pointed out that milk surpluses in certain regions often coexist with deficits in others, leading to logistical inefficiencies and missed opportunities for farmer income optimization. She called for more synchronized supply chain frameworks that bridge production with consumption hubs, particularly in underserved regions and emerging urban markets.
Emphasizing Data-Driven Solutions
A central theme of Ms. Joshi’s address was the need for a more robust, data-centric approach to dairy policy formulation and operations. She stated that real-time data analytics could dramatically improve procurement planning, market price stabilization, and early warning systems related to seasonal production dips or disease outbreaks.
“To manage what we measure better, we must strengthen our data ecosystems—from farmer-level milk yield records to national dashboards that integrate supply-demand scenarios. We envision a future where decision-making is guided by predictive insights and ground-level realities,” she said.
She further called on all stakeholders, including cooperatives, private dairies, and state departments, to contribute actively to data-sharing platforms being developed under DAHD. These platforms, she said, would not only enhance transparency but also allow for targeted policy interventions, such as region-specific feed subsidies, breeding programs, and market support schemes.
A New Scheme to Catalyze Dairy Cooperatives
In a key announcement, Ms. Joshi unveiled a new scheme initiated by DAHD aimed at accelerating dairy development through cooperatives. The scheme seeks to build capacity at the grassroots by providing financial and technical support to cooperative societies, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns and remote rural areas.
“The upcoming scheme will focus on upgrading milk chilling and testing infrastructure at village-level societies, supporting digital traceability tools, and enhancing training modules for cooperative leaders and members. We believe that cooperatives remain the backbone of our dairy industry, and this scheme will help unlock their full potential,” she explained.
She emphasized that the scheme also aligns with the government’s broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, where rural entrepreneurship and decentralized production systems play a central role in nation-building. By enabling cooperatives to operate with greater autonomy, efficiency, and accountability, the scheme aims to improve not just milk procurement rates but also the profitability of small and marginal farmers who rely heavily on dairy for their livelihoods.
Collaboration as the Cornerstone
Ms. Joshi underlined the importance of fostering greater collaboration among stakeholders. She urged public and private players to move beyond transactional partnerships towards co-creation models that focus on farmer welfare, sustainable practices, and technological adoption.
“Let us break silos and work as an integrated ecosystem — one where cooperatives, corporates, researchers, and policymakers co-develop solutions. Whether it’s leveraging AI for cattle health monitoring or blockchain for milk traceability, innovation must serve the last-mile farmer,” she said.
She also encouraged states to tap into centrally sponsored schemes more proactively and align them with state-specific dairy goals. The support available under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), National Livestock Mission (NLM), and Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) was highlighted as complementary pathways for strengthening infrastructure and breed improvement.
Ensuring Equity and Inclusion
Recognizing the critical role played by women in the dairy sector, Ms. Joshi advocated for a gender-inclusive approach in all dairy development initiatives. “Women contribute immensely to dairy operations, yet their access to credit, training, and leadership roles remains limited. Any vision of a sustainable dairy future must be inclusive of women dairy farmers and cooperative members,” she emphasized.
She proposed that cooperative reform frameworks must actively integrate gender equity indicators and incentivize the promotion of women-led dairy enterprises.
A Call to Action
In concluding her remarks, Ms. Joshi extended a call to action to all participants, urging them to look at the dairy sector not just as an industry, but as a powerful enabler of rural prosperity, nutritional security, and economic resilience. She emphasized that the sector’s future lies in its ability to adapt, innovate, and deliver shared value for all stakeholders—from farmers and consumers to processors and policymakers.
“The road ahead is challenging but also full of possibilities. If we come together with purpose and commitment, India’s dairy sector can continue to be a global exemplar of inclusive growth. Let’s make this decade one of transformation for our milk economy,” she concluded.
The Milk Situation Review Meeting continued with technical sessions and panel discussions throughout the day, focusing on procurement practices, breed improvement programs, feed and fodder management, cold chain expansion, and export opportunities. The event served as a meaningful platform for collaboration, policy alignment, and strategic planning for the future of Indian dairying.
