Indore, Madhya Pradesh — In a significant move aimed at enhancing milk procurement and empowering dairy farmers, the Indore Cooperative Milk Union has announced the formation of 550 new milk committees across its operational zone. This strategic expansion is part of a broader collaboration between the MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation (MPCDF) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The initiative is designed to enhance milk collection efficiency, strengthen the dairy farmer network, and increase plant capacity utilisation through technical support and quality enhancement.
“With the creation of 550 new committees, we aim to bring more farmers into the organized dairy fold and significantly boost milk collection,” said Sanjay Govani, Managing Director of MPCDF.
Currently, the Indore region operates 1,658 milk committees, collecting approximately 2.8 lakh litres of milk daily. The new committees will increase both geographical reach and farmer participation, contributing to the overall growth of the Indian dairy industry.
💰 Milk Procurement Rate Increased to Attract More Producers
To further incentivise farmers, the cooperative has raised the milk procurement rate from ₹820 to ₹840 per kg fat, effective September 11. This over 2% hike is part of an effort to provide better economic returns and ensure timely payments, especially vital for small and marginal dairy farmers.
“We’ve implemented the highest milk procurement price hike among all federation committees, reinforcing our commitment to farmer welfare and rural dairy development,” said Balbir Sharma, CEO of the Indore Milk Union. “We expect this step to connect around 14,000 new dairy farmers to the union.”
Interestingly, the union has not passed on any price increase to consumers, despite the rise in procurement costs. The last consumer-side milk price revision was in May, when rates went up by ₹2 per litre.
🧭 Strengthening the Dairy Ecosystem
This multi-faceted initiative aligns with the broader objectives of boosting the dairy sector in India, promoting value-added dairy products, and ensuring the sustainable growth of cooperatives. It also contributes to India’s dairy policy efforts, focused on improving farmer incomes and milk quality through structured support systems and partnerships, such as the NDDB-MPCDF alliance.
