Manipur’s dairy cooperative movement entered a new phase on Wednesday with the unveiling of a fresh identity, logo, and brand name-‘Manipur Dairy’-by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan, Imphal.
Managed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) since April 2025, the Manipur Milk Producers’ Co-operative Union Ltd now seeks to balance farmer prosperity with consumer trust through modern practices, diversified products, and digital empowerment.
The Governor also launched a new product range tailored to consumer needs, including Cow Special Milk (500 ml), Health Plus Double Toned Milk (150 ml), Probiotic Curd (400 gm & 100 gm), Special Lassi (200 ml), and Cow Ghee (250 gm & 500 gm). These variants aim to tap into growing health-conscious demand while ensuring better returns to farmers.
Parallelly, several initiatives were rolled out to strengthen the cooperative’s backbone. The NDDB’s Automated Milk Collection System (AMCS) and Dairy ERP platform were launched to make milk procurement transparent, enable digital farmer payments, and guarantee quality-based pricing. The Governor also inaugurated a 2 KL Bulk Milk Chilling Centre at Kakching, vital for preserving milk quality in rural pockets.
In a move signalling social transformation, five new all-women Dairy Cooperative Societies were announced under White Revolution 2.0 in Kakching district. Equipped with automated collection units and digital banking access, they are expected to foster rural women’s entrepreneurship and strengthen community ownership of dairying.
Shri Bhalla praised NDDB’s rapid interventions, noting Manipur’s inherent potential in dairy with nearly 2.6 lakh cattle and favourable agro-climatic conditions. He called the state’s decision to hand over the Union’s management to NDDB “a turning point for cooperative dairying in Manipur.”
NDDB Chairman Dr. Meenesh Shah underlined the Board’s support, citing a grant of ?3 crore and an interest-free loan of ?5 crore under the Revitalising Promising Producer-Owned Institutions (RPPOI) scheme.
These funds helped clear farmer dues, upgrade facilities, and ensure working capital. NDDB has also waived management fees, introduced fodder, animal health, and manure management best practices, and arranged training visits to successful dairies in Anand, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Looking ahead, Manipur Dairy will begin supplying milk to the Assam Rifles by October 2025, linking local dairy farmers with national service while creating assured markets. Retail expansion through ‘Milk & More’ outlets in Imphal and beyond is also on the anvil.
With its new identity, diversified product basket, women-led cooperatives, and digital backbone, Manipur Dairy marks a decisive step towards self-reliance in milk production, rural livelihood security, and stronger consumer confidence.
