Women Dairy Farmers in Assam Are Earning up to Rs. 10 Lakhs per year

Nayanmoni Bharali of Hojai, Assam, began her animal husbandry venture with just one cow six years ago and now sells 80-85 litres of milk everyday, bringing in Rs 10 lakh per year.

She is one of 6,800 women dairy producers in West Assam who have harnessed the power of animal husbandry to propel the state's largest milk cooperative, West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Ltd (WAMUL).

Bharali, who is a member of the well-known Purabi Dairy's Udali Bamungaon Dughda Utpadak Samabay, claims that her company has made her financially self-sufficient.

"I currently have a total of 12 cows." Purabi Dairy provided me with knowledge and skills to boost milk production via various training programmes, and I am grateful to the cooperative for providing me with a market to sell the farm's goods, which generates an annual turnover of roughly Rs10 lakh. "I'm proud to be an independent female dairy farmer today," she remarked.

Pranita Dutta, a milk farmer and the president of Nalbari's Anantagiri Mahila DCS, said that WAMUL has improved her life and enabled her and other businesses make a better living. "Since joining the cooperative, I've been able to provide for my family, which has given me more confidence," she added.

Dutta also emphasised the need of educating all women so that they may lay a firm basis for future financial independence.

Satyabrata Bose, managing director of West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Ltd, said the organisation marked International Women's Day on March 8 with an emphasis on the 'Power of W-Women of WAMUL' to recognise and honour their contributions to the dairy sector.

"They've come out to help 'break the prejudice,' which is this year's International Women's Day theme. They play an important part in all of WAMUL's operations.

"Women have made contributions in every segment, helping WAMUL become the largest milk cooperative in the region," said Bose. "Right from dairy farmers to various departments such as procurement, human resources, purchase, training and development, marketing, veterinary executive, and operations at a liquid milk processing plant, women have made their contributions in every segment, helping WAMUL become the largest milk cooperative in the region."

He claims that nearly 6,800 of 16,000 dairy producers are women. According to Bose, at least 18 of WAMUL's 28 female workers have leadership positions in diverse fields.