Jaipur: The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will expand the dairy cooperative movement to 75,000 villages nationwide over the next five years, including nearly 8,000 villages in Rajasthan, NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah announced on Friday.
He was addressing farmers and stakeholders at the inauguration of Rangeelo 2026, a two-day dairy and livestock festival organised by NDDB and its wholly owned subsidiary, NDDB Dairy Services. The event was hosted at Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University (SKNAU), Jobner.
Strengthening Existing Infrastructure
Shah said that beyond adding new villages to the cooperative network, NDDB will also upgrade infrastructure in 4,000 existing villages, focusing on milk testing facilities and strengthening procurement systems.
The programme was inaugurated by Rajasthan’s Minister of State for Home, Gopalan, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, and Fisheries, Jawahar Singh Bedam.
From Milk Deficit to Global Leader
Highlighting India’s dairy transformation, Shah said the country has moved from producing 15–20 million metric tonnes of milk annually decades ago to nearly 250 million metric tonnes today, accounting for about 25% of global milk production.
He credited NDDB’s leadership in driving the cooperative model that underpinned the White Revolution. Nearly 8 crore farmers are now engaged in dairying, making it one of the country’s largest livelihood sectors.
Shah also underlined dairy’s nutritional importance, particularly in a nation with a large lacto-vegetarian population dependent on milk as a primary protein source.
From Milk Deficit to Global Leader
Despite India’s production strength, Shah noted that only 35–40% of marketable surplus milk currently flows through the organised sector, while nearly 60% remains unorganised.
Read More: U.S. Milk Production Climbs 3.2% in January 2026 as Dairy Herd Expands
“Bringing more milk into the organised sector is essential to ensure quality products for consumers and better returns for farmers,” he said.
Rajasthan to Benefit Under White Revolution 2.0
Referring to White Revolution 2.0, Shah said Rajasthan — the country’s second-largest milk-producing state — stands to gain significantly, with 8,000 additional villages set to join the cooperative framework.
Sustainability Push: Biogas and Manure Management
Addressing environmental concerns, Shah pointed to methane emissions from India’s vast livestock population and said NDDB has initiated programmes promoting biogas generation and scientific manure management.
He encouraged farmers to adopt small biogas plants and develop dung-based value chains to generate clean energy and supplementary income.
‘Rangeelo 2026’: Platform for Rural Prosperity
Themed “Colors of Rural Prosperity with Animals,” Rangeelo 2026 aims to provide a common platform for farmers, experts, cooperative leaders, and policymakers to exchange ideas and explore advancements in dairy and animal husbandry.
The festival features indigenous cattle breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Rathi, Haryana, Kankrej, Punganur, and Nagori, along with buffalo breeds including Murrah, Nili-Ravi, and Jaffarabadi. Live demonstrations of advanced dairy technologies, milk competitions, technical sessions, policy dialogues, and cultural performances form part of the event.
With participation from farmers, dairy unions, agri-entrepreneurs, researchers, and students, the festival showcases Rajasthan’s vibrant rural economy while outlining an ambitious roadmap for the next phase of cooperative-led dairy growth.
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