Jhansi: The Uttar Pradesh government has invited investors to establish dairy industries in Bundelkhand, highlighting the region’s potential in milk production, processing and dairy entrepreneurship. The appeal was made by Uttar Pradesh Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Dharampal Singh during the dairy conclave ‘Swarnim Dughdhamrit Samvad Samagam’ held at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Jhansi.
Singh assured prospective investors of government support, security and access to benefits and incentives available under various schemes. He said the Jhansi, Chitrakoot Dham and Kanpur divisions have significant potential across agriculture, animal husbandry and dairy development.
Government Targets the Entire Dairy Value Chain
The minister said the Uttar Pradesh government is working to strengthen the complete dairy value chain, from milk production and processing to value addition and cold-chain infrastructure.
The objective is to improve farmers’ incomes while creating additional employment opportunities for women and young people in rural areas.
The government’s focus on the wider value chain could also encourage investment beyond traditional dairy farming. Processing facilities, chilling infrastructure, value-added dairy products and cold-chain networks could create new opportunities for private businesses and entrepreneurs in the region.
Singh also highlighted livestock rearing as an important complementary activity for farmers. Combining dairy and livestock activities with agriculture could help rural households diversify their income sources and strengthen their economic resilience.
Nand Baba Milk Mission Supports Farmers
Dairy Commissioner Dhanlakshmi K said Uttar Pradesh continues to be India’s leading milk-producing state and that the government is working to provide dairy farmers with assured markets, transparent pricing and sustainable incomes.
These objectives are being pursued through initiatives including the Nand Baba Milk Mission and Dairy Development Policy-2022.
According to Dhanlakshmi, approximately 1,200 beneficiaries across the Jhansi, Chitrakoot Dham and Kanpur divisions have received more than ₹13.5 crore in subsidies through direct benefit transfer under the Nand Baba Milk Mission.
The subsidy support is intended to strengthen dairy-related activities while improving access to government assistance for beneficiaries.
₹190 Crore in Investment Proposals
The three divisions have also attracted investment interest under the Global Investors Summit.
| Division | Investment Proposals |
|---|---|
| Jhansi | ₹15 crore |
| Chitrakoot Dham | ₹4 crore |
| Kanpur | ₹171 crore |
| Total | ₹190 crore |
Kanpur division accounts for the largest share of the investment proposals, with projects worth ₹171 crore. Jhansi has received proposals worth ₹15 crore, while Chitrakoot Dham has attracted proposals worth ₹4 crore.
The proposals indicate growing investor interest in developing dairy-related businesses and infrastructure across the wider region.
Bundelkhand’s Emerging Dairy Opportunity
Jhansi District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi described the dairy sector as an increasingly important pillar of the rural economy. He highlighted the division’s potential for milk production, processing and dairy entrepreneurship.
For Bundelkhand, strengthening dairy infrastructure could provide multiple benefits. Improved processing and cold-chain capacity can help reduce supply-chain inefficiencies, while value addition can enable producers and businesses to capture greater value from milk.
Greater investment could also support the development of organised dairy networks, potentially providing farmers with improved market access and creating new opportunities for rural employment.
The government’s push comes as Uttar Pradesh seeks to strengthen its position in India’s dairy economy by combining milk production with infrastructure, processing, investment and farmer-support initiatives.
With government incentives, subsidy programmes and investment proposals already emerging across Jhansi, Chitrakoot Dham and Kanpur, Bundelkhand is being positioned as an area with significant potential for dairy-sector expansion.