September 11 conclave will bring together dairy farmers, cooperatives, women entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders from Jhansi, Chitrakoot and Kanpur divisions
JHANSI — Uttar Pradesh will host a regional dairy conclave in Jhansi on September 11, 2026, bringing together stakeholders from the Jhansi, Chitrakoot and Kanpur divisions to strengthen women’s participation and entrepreneurship in the dairy sector.
Themed “Women Participation & Entrepreneurship in Dairy Development and Contribution in Dairy Economy,” the conclave will focus on expanding the role of women in dairy farming, cooperatives, milk processing and rural entrepreneurship.
According to the Dairy Development Department, the event will also be used to improve awareness among eligible beneficiaries about government welfare schemes while promoting modern dairy technologies and scientific livestock management.
Bundelkhand emerges as a focus area
The Jhansi conclave is being organised as a regional follow-up to the state’s broader dairy-sector initiatives and will place particular emphasis on Bundelkhand.
Dhanalakshmi K., Dairy Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh, said the region has witnessed significant participation of women in dairy cooperatives and milk-producing organisations.
The conclave is expected to provide a platform for farmers and entrepreneurs to learn about scientific livestock management, modern dairy technologies, quality control, value addition and government support programmes.
The department also aims to strengthen linkages between dairy farmers, markets, processing enterprises and government schemes.
From household dairy work to women-led enterprises
Dhanalakshmi highlighted the historical role women have played in India’s dairy economy.
Women have traditionally been responsible for several day-to-day livestock activities, including animal care, cleaning, fodder management and basic health management.
These activities have gradually evolved into a more formal economic role as women increasingly participate in dairy cooperatives and milk-production enterprises.
According to the commissioner, women now account for more than 70% of participation in the state’s dairy cooperative sector.
The transition is particularly visible in Bundelkhand, which has historically faced water scarcity and drought-related challenges but is increasingly being positioned as an emerging dairy hub.
Women-owned cooperatives enter the dairy business
The state government says women-led dairy organisations are increasingly moving beyond primary milk production toward entrepreneurship and processing.
According to Dhanalakshmi, nine milk producer companies (MPCs) in Uttar Pradesh are currently owned and operated by women.
The development represents a shift from women being primarily participants in household dairy activities to becoming owners, decision-makers and entrepreneurs within the organised dairy value chain.
Women-led groups are also beginning to explore dairy processing and value-added milk products, with ambitions to access domestic as well as international markets.
The government views this transition as an important component of rural livelihood development, nutrition and household food security.
Lakhpati Didis seen as rural entrepreneurship model
The Dairy Department is also highlighting the emergence of women dairy farmers as “Lakhpati Didis”—women whose dairy and allied livelihood activities generate annual incomes of at least ₹1 lakh.
The department sees these entrepreneurs as potential role models for other rural women.
The broader objective is to move women from participation in dairy activities toward ownership of productive assets, higher household incomes and independent rural enterprises.
Dhanalakshmi said the progress could eventually create a pathway for women entrepreneurs to become “Crorepati Didis” as their businesses scale.
Government schemes reserve 50% beneficiaries for women
The state has also incorporated a strong gender focus into several livestock-development schemes under the Nand Baba Dugdh Mission.
A minimum of 50% of beneficiaries are earmarked for women under schemes including:
- Mukhyamantri Gosamvardhan Yojana
- Mini Nandini
- Nandini Krishi Samriddhi Yojana
- Pragatisheel Kisan Yojana
The policy framework is intended to increase women’s access to livestock assets, dairy entrepreneurship and government-supported dairy infrastructure.
Processing and value addition become the next frontier
The Uttar Pradesh government is also positioning women entrepreneurs to participate further along the dairy value chain.
Under the Uttar Pradesh Dairy Development & Milk Products Promotion Policy 2022, women entrepreneurs receive priority for subsidies aimed at establishing dairy processing units.
Also Read: Aavin Unveils ₹20-Crore Missions to Boost Milk Yield and Reproductive Efficiency of Cows
This could help shift the focus from simply producing and selling raw milk toward higher-value activities such as paneer, yoghurt, ghee, fermented products and other processed dairy foods.
Greater participation in processing could also allow women-led organisations to capture a larger share of the value generated after milk leaves the farm.
Uttar Pradesh marks 50 years of dairy development
The Jhansi conclave follows the state’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Dairy Development Department, which was established on April 17, 1976.
To commemorate the milestone, the state organised a two-day Dugdamrit Swarn Mahotsav in Lucknow, bringing together milk farmers, investors, dairy experts, technicians, academicians, milk companies, self-help groups and cooperatives.
The event also included a dairy expo showcasing technologies and businesses across the state’s dairy ecosystem.
The Jhansi conclave is being positioned as a more regional and focused platform for Bundelkhand, with emphasis on translating broader dairy policies into opportunities for farmers and women entrepreneurs at the local level.
From dairy participation to rural economic transformation
The larger significance of the initiative lies in the changing role of women within the dairy value chain.
Women who traditionally contributed unpaid labour to livestock management are increasingly gaining access to cooperative ownership, livestock assets, formal markets, processing infrastructure and entrepreneurship opportunities.
For Bundelkhand, this could have implications beyond dairy production. Higher household incomes, better access to animal nutrition and veterinary services, stronger milk procurement networks and local processing could collectively strengthen the rural economy.
The bigger picture
The September 11 conclave reflects Uttar Pradesh’s attempt to make women central to its next phase of dairy development.
The strategy is moving from “women participating in dairy” to “women owning and leading dairy enterprises.”
If access to finance, technology, breeding services, quality inputs and markets grows alongside cooperative participation, women-led dairy organisations could become an important engine for rural employment, value addition, household nutrition and inclusive dairy-sector growth in Uttar Pradesh.
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