Maharashtra’s dairy cooperative sector continues to play a key role in boosting milk production and farmer incomes, with output estimated at 166.26 lakh tonnes in 2024–25, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The state accounts for 6.7% of India’s total milk production, with per capita availability rising to 358 grams per day. A strong cooperative network underpins this growth, with over 8.7 lakh milk producers, 27% of them women, linked to 13,272 dairy cooperative societies procuring 43.41 lakh kg of milk daily.
The Minister highlighted that processing capacity in cooperative dairies has steadily increased to 145 lakh litres per day, reflecting ongoing infrastructure strengthening.
To support dairy cooperatives, the Centre is implementing key schemes such as Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, aimed at improving productivity, infrastructure, and market access.
These initiatives, along with support for Farmer Producer Organisations, are enhancing value addition, boosting exports, and improving income security for small and marginal dairy farmers, reinforcing the cooperative-led dairy ecosystem.
