Amul to Establish World’s Largest Curd Production Plant in West Bengal
India’s dairy sector is set to witness a major expansion as Amul announced a ₹700 crore investment to establish what is expected to become the world’s largest curd production facility in Sankrail, Howrah, West Bengal.
The project marks one of the most significant dairy investments in eastern India and is expected to substantially strengthen the region’s milk processing capacity while creating new opportunities for dairy farmers.
Mega Dairy Project to Boost Eastern India’s Dairy Ecosystem
The proposed facility will have the capacity to:
- 🥛 Process 30 lakh litres of milk per day (LLPD)
- 🍶 Produce approximately 10 lakh kilograms of curd and cultured dairy products daily
- 🤝 Benefit more than 1.25 lakh dairy farmers
- 👩🌾 Support over 30,000 women dairy producers
The project aims to create a robust cooperative dairy ecosystem and establish a sustainable market for milk producers across West Bengal and neighbouring states.
Strengthening Farmer Incomes and Rural Livelihoods
Speaking during the foundation stone laying ceremony, Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the project’s potential to significantly improve farmer incomes and accelerate dairy sector development in eastern India.
The investment is expected to:
- 📈 Enhance milk procurement opportunities
- 💰 Improve income stability for smallholder dairy farmers
- 🐄 Encourage livestock development and dairy entrepreneurship
- 🏭 Strengthen value-added dairy processing infrastructure
- 🌱 Generate additional rural employment opportunities
Industry observers note that eastern India has historically remained underrepresented in large-scale dairy investments compared to western and northern regions, making the project strategically significant.
Expanding Value-Added Dairy Processing
The focus on curd and cultured dairy products reflects changing consumer preferences and rising demand for value-added dairy products across India.
India’s fermented dairy segment has witnessed strong growth in recent years, driven by:
- Increasing urban consumption
- Growing health and nutrition awareness
- Expansion of organised retail channels
- Rising demand for convenience dairy products
The establishment of the world’s largest curd plant could position West Bengal as an important hub for cultured dairy products in the coming years.
Strengthening Cooperative Dairy Networks
The project also aligns with broader efforts to expand cooperative dairy models beyond traditional strongholds and strengthen dairy development in eastern India.
By creating large-scale processing infrastructure, the project could help:
- Improve market access for milk producers
- Reduce post-harvest losses
- Enhance supply chain efficiencies
- Encourage greater farmer participation in organised dairy value chains
The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to regional dairy development while reinforcing India’s position as the world’s largest milk producer.
A Landmark Investment for the Indian Dairy Industry
With processing and value addition becoming increasingly important for future dairy growth, investments of this scale are expected to play a vital role in improving sector competitiveness and farmer prosperity.
The Amul Bengal Dairy Project represents not only a major infrastructure investment but also a strategic step toward unlocking the untapped dairy potential of eastern India.
Once operational, the facility could become a benchmark for large-scale value-added dairy processing and cooperative-driven rural development in the country.
