A delegation of 12 Board of Directors from three Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) affiliated with Mithila Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Ltd., Samastipur, Bihar, participated in a one-day capacity-building programme at the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (Vamnicom), Pune.
Organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, the training focused on new policy directions and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the dairy cooperative ecosystem and promoting sustainability in the livestock sector.
The programme aimed to equip dairy cooperative leaders with knowledge of national-level cooperative reforms and emerging practices in sustainable agriculture. It also offered insights into the Government’s latest initiatives to support rural dairy enterprises and their integration into a broader circular economy.
Expert faculty members Dr. Dhananjay Gaikwad and Dr. Mahesh Kadam from Vamnicom delivered thematic sessions covering a wide range of subjects relevant to the future of dairy cooperatives.
Among the key themes was “White Revolution 2.0”, which emphasizes enhanced milk productivity, empowerment of producer organizations, and building self-reliant dairy cooperatives.
The session also elaborated on the Government’s decision to form three dedicated Multi-State Cooperative Societies in the dairy sector, with focus areas including animal feed production, dung-based organic manure and bioenergy, and circular management of dead cattle and related residues. These societies are part of a national roadmap for creating a circular, zero-waste, and sustainable livestock economy that also boosts rural incomes and environmental resilience.
Participants were introduced to strategic linkages between dairy cooperatives and flagship government schemes such as the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), Rashtriya Gokul Mission, and Dairy Sahakar Yojana. The discussions highlighted how such integration can help build institutional strength, modernize infrastructure, and create value-added opportunities at the grassroots level.
The programme also stressed the importance of digitalization, traceability, and fodder security. Attention was given to convergence models involving Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and agri-tech startups that can bring innovation, enterprise development, and decentralized solutions to dairy and livestock farming.
Delegates from PACS in Harpur Alloth, Warisnagar, and Patori blocks of Samastipur district actively participated in interactive sessions on cooperative governance, business planning, and localized value chain development.
They also toured the Vamnicom Incubation Centre to engage with early-stage startups working in dairy innovation and agri-value chains using digital platforms and decentralized technologies that aim to increase value realization for farmers.
This initiative reflects the Ministry of Cooperation’s larger vision to transform cooperative institutions into dynamic engines of rural growth, particularly by fostering livestock-based enterprises that align with principles of climate-smart agriculture and waste-to-wealth generation. The event also served to build leadership capacity among eastern India’s dairy cooperative actors, thereby enhancing their readiness to navigate a fast-evolving economic and ecological landscape.
Prof. Shantanu Ghosh, Registrar of Vamnicom, praised Mithila Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari Sangh for its proactive engagement and reiterated the institute’s commitment to supporting cooperative capacity-building, policy innovation, and enterprise incubation.
The training marks a significant step in strengthening rural cooperatives and promoting inclusive, sustainable models for India’s dairy and livestock economy.
