Patna—In a remarkable transformation that began with Dr. Verghese Kurien’s vision, Bihar’s dairy cooperative sector has evolved into a promising growth story. The Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation Ltd (Comfed), known to consumers through its popular Sudha brand, is now emerging as a competitive and fast-scaling player in the Indian dairy ecosystem.
Originally formed in 1983 under Kurien’s stewardship to revive Bihar’s struggling dairy model, Comfed today boasts a turnover of ₹1,500 crore and growing profits nearing ₹40 crore. It connects over 30,000 milk societies across the state, offering consistent livelihoods to thousands of rural dairy farmers.
“We sell dairy products with dignity and purpose,” says Raj Kumar, Managing Director of Comfed. “Every rupee earned is routed back to farmers through welfare schemes. Soon, we’ll launch a ₹5 lakh accidental medical insurance plan for each farmer.”
📈 Growing Capacity, Expanding Reach
Comfed currently collects around 30 lakh litres of milk daily, with plans to scale up to 45 lakh litres per day in the near future. Of the current volume, 18 lakh litres are sold as liquid milk, while the rest is processed into products like ghee, curd, paneer, sweets, and more.
Quality remains a cornerstone. “We never reuse frying oil more than twice when making our sweets,” Kumar emphasised, adding that such practices distinguish Sudha from many private players in the dairy market.
🌍 Tapping into Global Demand
Recognizing the increasing appetite for Indian dairy products overseas, Comfed has already begun exporting ghee, gulab jamun, and makhana to the United States, with shipments routed via Bihta Dry Port and Mundra Port. The UAE market is next on the radar.
“We’re not just focused on Bihar anymore. Our reach is expanding,” says N Vijaya Lakshmi, Chairperson of Comfed. “We’ve established processing units in West Bengal, Delhi-NCR, Assam, and Jharkhand—each with different levels of success, but we’re adapting fast.”
Comfed’s facility in Assam is performing particularly well, and the brand is making significant inroads in Jharkhand through its plants in Ranchi, Bokaro, and Jamshedpur.
🔄 Transparent, Farmer-First Reforms
Comfed is also modernising its governance structure. It has begun digitally registering all 30,000+ milk societies, with 100 registrations completed daily. This initiative will enable real-time tracking of milk collection, ensuring faster interventions and transparency.
A major shift underway is the move to direct bank transfers to farmers, eliminating intermediaries and aligning Comfed with modern cooperative benchmarks set by brands like Amul.
“We’re improving accountability. Previously, payments went through society secretaries. Now, the money goes straight into farmers’ accounts,” Kumar said.
While Comfed may not yet be India’s largest cooperative, it is clearly one of its most promising regional dairy federations. It demonstrates that farmer empowerment, quality assurance, and export vision can coexist in a state once considered dairy-deficient.
