Jaipur, July 3, 2025 – In a determined bid to surpass Uttar Pradesh and claim the top spot in national milk production, the Rajasthan government has launched a wide-ranging welfare initiative for over 20,000 dairy farmers in the border districts of Udaipur, Banswara, Barmer, and Raniwara (Jalore).
Currently, Rajasthan ranks second in India, with an annual production of 34 million metric tonnes (MMT), trailing Uttar Pradesh’s 38 MMT. However, the 4 MMT gap is narrowing, and the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government is betting on border-focused dairy empowerment to bridge it.
“We want to ensure our dairy farmers, especially those near the Gujarat border, have no reason to take their milk elsewhere. With the right infrastructure and incentives, we can lead the nation in dairy,” a senior official told IANS.
Key Welfare Components: Income, Insurance, and Infrastructure
The Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) has been tasked with implementing this strategy, which includes:
- 🥛 Rs 2/Litre bonus under the Border State Policy
- 🥛 Rs 5/Litre existing support under CM Milk Producer Sambal Yojana
- 💸 Direct bank transfer of milk payments
- 🏥 Rs 2.5 lakh health insurance (covering four family members for Rs 370/year)
- 🚑 Rs 5 lakh accident insurance (premium: Rs 14; 90% covered by RCDF)
- 👰 Rs 21,000 marriage support for daughters of registered farmers
- 🔋 Rs 29,000 subsidy on Flexi Biogas Plants (cost: Rs 37,000; saves 2 LPG cylinders/month)
- 📈 Dedicated marketing consultants in each district to enhance sales outreach
- 🏭 Milk plant upgrades using RCDF’s rehabilitation fund
Border District Focus: Strategic Milk Corridors
The border districts collectively contribute 1.75 lakh litres/day to the state’s milk pool. Officials believe that boosting these areas could significantly increase overall production and prevent interstate milk leakage into Gujarat or Maharashtra.
District-wise Scheme Impact:
- Udaipur – 11,447 farmers
- Raniwara (Jalore) – 5,160 farmers
- Barmer – 2,226 farmers
- Banswara – 1,953 farmers
Statewise Milk Production Snapshot (2024):
| State | Production (MMT) |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 38 |
| Rajasthan | 34 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 22 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 18.5 |
| Gujarat | 17.9 |
| Punjab | 12.5 |
(Source: National Dairy Development Board)
A Race with UP: Strategy vs. Scale
While UP’s dominance comes from scale—driven by a vast rural base and institutional supply chains—Rajasthan’s edge lies in targeted reforms, cooperative participation, and leveraging tribal-dominated regions for structured milk procurement. By focusing on social security, sustainable energy, and direct payments, Rajasthan is developing a replicable model for dairy empowerment.
“Our goal is not just to increase production but to ensure dairy farming remains a profitable and dignified livelihood,” said State Minister of State Joraram Kumawat.
