Amul Bets Big on West Bengal as Key Growth Engine for Eastern India
India’s largest dairy cooperative, Amul, is significantly expanding its presence in eastern India, with West Bengal emerging as a strategic growth hub under the cooperative’s broader ₹10,000 crore investment plan.
Through the upcoming Amul Bengal Dairy Project in Howrah, the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) aims to strengthen milk procurement, expand farmer participation and build one of the region’s largest dairy processing ecosystems.
🏭 Mega Dairy Facility Planned in Howrah
The new dairy facility, being developed at the Howrah Food Park, is expected to become operational within the next two years.
Key Project Highlights:
🥛 Milk processing capacity of 30 lakh litres per day
🍶 World’s largest curd manufacturing facility with production capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes (10 lakh kg) daily
📦 Production of various cultured and value-added dairy products
🌏 Supply hub for fresh and long shelf-life dairy products across eastern India
The project represents one of the largest dairy infrastructure investments in eastern India’s history.
📈 Doubling Milk Procurement in West Bengal
Amul currently procures approximately:
🐄 9 lakh litres of milk per day
👨🌾 Milk sourced from around 1.25 lakh farmers
🏘️ Network spread across nearly 900 villages
Under the expansion strategy, the cooperative plans to:
✅ Expand operations to over 3,000 villages
✅ Increase farmer participation substantially
✅ Double milk procurement to more than 20 lakh litres per day
The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen farmer incomes and accelerate dairy sector development across the state.
🌾 Strengthening Eastern India’s Dairy Ecosystem
According to GCMMF, West Bengal offers immense growth potential due to:
📈 Rising demand for organised dairy products
👩🌾 Large untapped dairy farming population
🚚 Strategic location for serving eastern and northeastern markets
🥛 Increasing consumer preference for value-added dairy products
Fresh dairy products manufactured at the plant will primarily cater to local demand, while products with longer shelf life will be distributed across the wider eastern region.
💰 Part of Amul’s Broader Expansion Strategy
The Bengal project forms part of Amul’s ambitious ₹10,000 crore investment programme, under which the cooperative plans to establish:
🏭 10–12 new manufacturing plants
🍦 Expanded ice cream production facilities
🥛 Additional dairy and food processing units
The investment follows the near completion of Amul’s earlier ₹11,000 crore expansion programme announced in 2023.
🌍 Growing Importance of Value-Added Dairy Products
The emphasis on cultured dairy products and curd manufacturing reflects changing consumer trends in India:
🥣 Growing demand for fermented dairy products
📈 Expansion of organised dairy consumption
🏭 Increased investments in value-added dairy categories
🌿 Higher focus on product diversification and processing efficiency
The project is expected to strengthen Amul’s leadership in India’s fast-growing value-added dairy segment.
Outlook
Amul’s expansion in West Bengal marks a significant milestone in the development of eastern India’s dairy industry.
By increasing milk procurement, expanding farmer networks and creating one of the world’s largest curd production facilities, the cooperative is positioning West Bengal as a critical dairy hub that could drive rural incomes, strengthen supply chains and support the continued growth of India’s organised dairy sector.