Bihar’s dairy sector is set for a structural upgrade as Sudha Dairy, under the umbrella of COMFED, moves ahead with a ₹50.27-crore greenfield dairy processing plant in Gaya. Designed with a processing capacity of 2 lakh litres per day (LPD), the facility is expected to significantly reshape milk procurement, value addition, and rural employment across Bihar’s Magadh region.
Capacity Expansion to Address Structural Constraints
At present, Sudha Dairy’s existing Gaya unit processes only 60,000 LPD while sourcing milk from five districts. This capacity mismatch has constrained procurement growth and limited the region’s ability to absorb surplus milk during flush seasons. The new 10-acre plant in Bhindas village, Wazirganj block, directly addresses this bottleneck by tripling processing capacity and enabling more efficient milk handling.
Moreover, the inclusion of a dedicated milk powder unit adds a critical buffer against seasonal volatility. By converting excess milk into storable commodities, Sudha Dairy can stabilise farmer payments while improving inventory resilience.
Strengthening Farmer Incomes Through Value Addition
Beyond liquid milk, the Gaya plant will manufacture paneer, curd, lassi, peda, gulab jamun and milk powder. This shift towards diversified, higher-margin dairy products is expected to improve realisations across the cooperative supply chain. For livestock farmers in Magadh’s five districts, the project promises more stable procurement, reduced distress sales, and improved income predictability.
Importantly, the initiative aligns with national policy priorities focused on doubling farmer incomes through organised markets and value-chain integration rather than price support alone.
Rural Employment and Regional Development Impact
The project is also positioned as a rural employment generator. Direct jobs in processing, logistics and quality control will be complemented by indirect opportunities in milk collection, transport, packaging and allied services. For rural youth, particularly in and around Gaya, the plant offers non-farm livelihood options closely linked to the agricultural economy.
Strategic Significance for Bihar’s Dairy Ecosystem
From a sectoral perspective, the investment reinforces Bihar’s ambition to move from a milk-deficient to a value-driven dairy state. Strengthened cooperative infrastructure, combined with product diversification, places Sudha Dairy in a stronger position to compete with private dairies and expand its footprint across eastern India. If executed on schedule, the Gaya plant could become a template for decentralised dairy industrialisation in other underserved regions.
