GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government has launched an initiative to strengthen dairy-based livelihoods among rural women by connecting women milk producers with self-help groups (SHGs), dairy cooperatives, institutional credit and animal husbandry services.
According to an official release, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among the Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company Limited (GLPC), the Cooperation Department and the Animal Husbandry Department in Rajkot in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
The initiative aims to improve coordination between women’s SHGs operating under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Gujarat’s dairy cooperative network and government livestock services.
Women to Be Organised Into Dairy Producer Groups
Under the programme, women engaged in village-level milk production will be linked with SHGs and gradually organised into women’s dairy producer groups and, where appropriate, producer enterprises.
The approach seeks to help women move beyond individual milk production towards organised dairy businesses with improved access to finance, technical support and established milk markets.
By strengthening collective organisation, the initiative could also help women pool resources, coordinate procurement and explore opportunities for expanding their dairy-related activities.
Bank Credit and Livestock Purchase Support
Access to finance is a central component of the initiative. Women’s groups will be facilitated in accessing bank linkages, institutional credit and loans for purchasing dairy animals.
The programme will also provide guidance on obtaining essential dairy equipment and infrastructure support, including information on applicable interest subsidies, subject to eligibility requirements and fund availability.
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Access to suitable financing could help women establish or expand dairy enterprises. However, the long-term viability of these businesses will depend on milk productivity, feed costs, veterinary expenses, repayment capacity and reliable access to buyers.
Scientific Animal Husbandry and Healthcare Services
The Animal Husbandry Department will provide technical support to participating women, covering:
- Balanced animal feeding and nutrition management.
- Vaccination, deworming and veterinary healthcare.
- Artificial insemination and breed improvement.
- Selection of suitable dairy animals.
- Guidance on planning and managing dairy-based livelihoods.
These services are intended to improve animal health, support milk productivity and strengthen the technical capacity of women dairy entrepreneurs.
Connecting Producers With Dairy Cooperatives
The Cooperation Department will facilitate links between women producers, milk cooperative societies and district milk unions. GLPC will identify eligible beneficiaries, support credit access and help organise and strengthen producer groups.
Such connections can provide women with more structured routes to market and potentially improve the regularity of milk sales. Effective implementation will depend on the availability of nearby collection facilities, transparent milk-quality testing and timely payments to producers.
Opportunities Across the Dairy Value Chain
Beyond milk production, the initiative encourages women’s groups to explore additional dairy-related activities, including collective procurement of animal feed, milk collection, quality improvement, packaging, branding, processing and marketing.
Participation in these activities could allow women to capture a greater share of the value generated along the dairy supply chain rather than relying exclusively on the sale of raw milk.
However, value-added enterprises will require appropriate infrastructure, food safety compliance, working capital, market assessment and technical training.
Monitoring and Coordination Mechanism
State- and district-level coordination and monitoring committees will be established to oversee implementation and periodically review progress.
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Minister Jitu Vaghani said the integration of SHGs, institutional credit and dairy cooperatives would create new opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs.
He added that the government aims to improve women’s incomes through scientific animal husbandry, better livestock healthcare, increased milk productivity and quality, and greater value addition, while strengthening rural household livelihoods.
A Push for Women-Led Dairy Enterprises
The initiative combines financial inclusion, livestock services and cooperative market access to support women’s participation in Gujarat’s dairy economy.
Its impact will ultimately depend on how effectively eligible women access credit, receive technical assistance, build sustainable producer groups and connect with dependable markets. Progress in these areas could help strengthen women-led dairy enterprises and create additional livelihood opportunities in rural Gujarat.
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