2026–27 scheme targets low-income and landless households, linking livestock distribution with veterinary support and Aavin’s cooperative milk procurement network.
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹57 crore for the 2026–27 financial year to distribute free, high-yielding dairy cows to 10,000 eligible rural women, aiming to strengthen household incomes, expand milk production and improve women’s economic independence.
Announced in the state’s revised budget, the programme is intended to benefit women from low-income and landless rural households, with priority reportedly given to women-headed households, widows and marginalised agricultural labourers.
Scheme targets cows yielding at least 8 litres of milk daily
Under the reported procurement guidelines, each cow will be valued at ₹57,000. Eligible animals must be crossbred, undergo disease screening and have the capacity to produce at least 8 litres of milk per day.
Veterinary supervision is expected to form part of the programme, while beneficiaries will receive training in animal husbandry and dairy management.
The government’s approach is intended to help participating households generate regular income from milk sales and build livestock assets over time. Actual earnings will depend on milk yield, lactation stage, feed costs, veterinary expenses and the price received for milk.
Training to cover feeding, breeding and animal health
Alongside cattle distribution, the programme is expected to provide practical guidance on key dairy-farming activities, including:
- Balanced feeding: Formulating rations to meet animals’ nutritional requirements while managing feed costs.
- Fodder and silage management: Preserving green fodder to improve feed availability throughout the year.
- Mastitis prevention: Applying hygienic milking practices and identifying udder infections early.
- Reproductive management: Arranging artificial insemination at the appropriate time and monitoring breeding performance.
- Veterinary care: Ensuring disease prevention, routine health checks and follow-up support.
These services are important because high-yielding crossbred cattle require appropriate nutrition, housing, health management and regular access to veterinary assistance to sustain productivity.
Aavin cooperative network to support milk marketing
The scheme is designed to connect beneficiary households with Tamil Nadu’s organised dairy procurement system.
Village Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Societies are expected to collect milk and channel it to district milk unions and Aavin, the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited.
Also Read: Bihar Forms 4,800 New Dairy Cooperative Societies, Adds 91,000 Kg to Daily Milk Collection
Using existing cooperative infrastructure could give participating women access to an established milk marketing channel rather than requiring them to find individual buyers.
At collection centres, milk will undergo testing for fat and solids-not-fat (SNF) content. Payments are intended to be transferred electronically to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, supporting traceability and payment transparency.
Potential benefits for women’s livelihoods and milk production
The distribution of 10,000 dairy cows could create an additional source of household income while increasing the volume of milk available to cooperative buyers.
The programme also links livestock ownership with training, veterinary support and organised milk collection—components that can influence whether smallholder dairy farming remains economically viable.
However, the scheme’s long-term impact will depend on effective beneficiary selection, the health and productive performance of distributed animals, access to affordable feed, reliable veterinary services and timely milk payments.
If implemented effectively, the initiative could strengthen women’s participation in dairy farming while supporting milk procurement and rural livelihoods across Tamil Nadu.
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