What began in 2014 with just 27 women milk producers at the foothills of Tirumala has evolved into one of India’s most remarkable rural development success stories. Today, Shreeja Mahila Milk Producer Company Limited (SMMPCL), headquartered in Tirupati, has empowered nearly 29,000 women to become ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and is now setting its sights on creating the country’s next generation of ‘Crorepati Didis’.
Promoted by the National Dairy Development Board, Shreeja has emerged as the world’s largest women-owned milk producer company, connecting more than 1.4 lakh women dairy farmers from approximately 5,000 villages across four southern states.
Building Prosperity Through Dairy Farming
Among Shreeja’s success stories is J. Naga Jyothi from Garigachinnepalle village in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district.
Owning 23 dairy cows, Naga Jyothi generated milk sales worth ₹28.3 lakh during the previous financial year and received the Best Woman Dairy Farmer 2025 award from the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the Indian Dairy Association.
Another standout entrepreneur is G. Cheritha from Debbanahalli village in Karnataka. Managing a dairy enterprise with 70 cows and 15 employees, she recorded annual milk sales of ₹48 lakh, making her the highest-earning individual member within the Shreeja network.
These examples reflect the growing potential of dairy farming as a pathway to rural entrepreneurship and women-led economic empowerment.
Creating 29,000 ‘Lakhpati Didis’
Long before the Government of India formally launched its nationwide Lakhpati Didi initiative, Shreeja had already been helping women achieve annual earnings exceeding ₹1 lakh through organized dairy farming.
Over the past eleven years, the organization has successfully created approximately 29,000 Lakhpati Didis, collectively earning around ₹694 crore during the last financial year.
The achievement has earned national recognition, with Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying S. P. Singh Baghel acknowledging the contribution of Shreeja’s women dairy farmers to rural economic development and women’s empowerment.
A Cooperative Owned by Women
Unlike conventional dairy businesses, Shreeja operates on a producer-owned model where the women who supply milk are also the owners of the organization.
The cooperative structure ensures that dairy farmers directly benefit from value creation across the supply chain, including milk procurement, processing, marketing, and product sales.
Over the years, the organization has expanded significantly, creating a robust dairy ecosystem that supports women farmers through market access, technical guidance, veterinary services, and financial inclusion.
₹280-Crore Integrated Dairy Expansion
To support its next phase of growth, Shreeja is investing in a major dairy infrastructure project in Andhra Pradesh.
The organization is establishing a ₹280-crore integrated dairy and cattle-feed complex on a 47-acre site in Kuppam, represented by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The project is being executed on a turnkey basis by the National Dairy Development Board.
According to Shreeja Chief Executive S. R. Thimmappa, the new facility will significantly enhance the company’s processing capabilities and diversify its product portfolio.
Moving Up the Value Chain
Currently, Shreeja supplies approximately 6 lakh litres of milk per day to Mother Dairy.
Once the integrated plant becomes operational, the company plans to enter higher-value dairy product segments, including:
- Milk powder
- Butter
- Ghee
- Value-added dairy products
The facility will also manufacture approximately 200 metric tonnes of cattle feed per day, helping strengthen the productivity and profitability of member farmers.
The move reflects a broader trend within India’s dairy industry, where producer organizations are increasingly focusing on value addition rather than relying solely on liquid milk sales.
The Vision: One Lakh Lakhpati Didis
Shreeja’s immediate goal is ambitious: bringing one lakh women dairy farmers into the Lakhpati Didi category within the next two years.
However, the organization’s leadership is already looking beyond that milestone.
Read More: Nomination Process Begins for Sumul Dairy Board Elections
By expanding dairy processing, increasing value-added product production, strengthening credit access, and enhancing farmer entrepreneurship, Shreeja aims to create a new category of rural business leaders—“Crorepati Didis.”
A Model for Rural Transformation
The Shreeja story demonstrates how organized dairying can serve as a powerful tool for women’s empowerment, rural employment generation, and agricultural transformation.
From a small group of 27 women milk suppliers in 2014 to a network of 1.4 lakh dairy entrepreneurs today, the organization has shown how cooperative ownership, professional management, and value-chain integration can create sustainable prosperity in rural India.
As India’s dairy sector continues to evolve, Shreeja’s model offers an inspiring blueprint for combining women’s leadership, cooperative development, and agribusiness innovation to build inclusive rural growth.
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