Itanagar, July 4, 2025 – The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has announced a structured plan to establish milk unions and a state-level milk federation across Arunachal Pradesh, aiming to bring cooperative dairy models to one of India’s most underserved regions in terms of organized milk production.
The initiative begins with the Lohit River basin, covering Lohit, Namsai, and Lower Dibang Valley districts, NDDB’s Kolkata regional head S. Roy said during a training session for enumerators and supervisors at Chowkham circle in Namsai.
This is part of a phased rollout that will eventually cover:
- Siang basin
- Subansiri basin
- Kameng basin
- Tirap basin
At the apex, all district milk unions will form a state-level milk federation, mirroring NDDB’s successful models in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Bihar.
“This is not just about milk—it’s about creating rural livelihoods, reducing import dependence, and fostering cooperative spirit in Northeast India,” said Roy.
The move is expected to:
- Improve structured milk procurement and processing in hilly and tribal regions
- Empower smallholder dairy farmers through institutional support
- Strengthen dairy-linked infrastructure in the region
NDDB’s initiative is aligned with the national push to enhance rural livelihoods, boost regional milk production, and replicate the Anand model in remote geographies.