IDF WDS 2022: Dairy Farmer Organizations Come Knocking with New Products in Market Dominated By Big Brands

Giving a glimpse of the future to the galaxy of experts and leaders of the global dairy sector, dairy farmers across the country launched over half a dozen products during the ongoing IDF World Dairy Summit 2022 declaring their bid to capture a shelf in the market, heavily dominated by the established brands of big players.

‘It's a proud day for farmer’s community who have demonstrated the strength of collective to create a niche for themselves…for the organization created by them to ensure maximum realization for their sweat and labour’, said Meenesh Shah, Chairman of National Dairy Development Board while congratulating the organization created only by the women dairy farmers and coming out of their houses to demonstrate their empowerment.

Over 7.5 lakh farmers, largely small and marginal with 70 per cent women membership, have come together to establish their own 20 producer company, and the value-added offerings from them is a bid to enter the organized segment of dairy sector, NDDB Dairy Services (NDS), a facilitator and technical and expert advisor to farmers help to form Milk Producer Companies, said here.

From yummy curd to aromatic cow ghee and nutritious paneer and mouth-watering yoghurt among the value-added product offerings showcased by four all women organization besides significant player from Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat at the IDF World Dairy Summit 2022 inaugurated by Prime Minister on September 12, 2022.

“I am very proud that four different brands of ghee along with curd and paneer have been launched. Four of the five entities whose products have been unveiled are hundred per center women member organizations. Tens of thousands of rural women have joined hands to form their organizations Shreeja, Asha, Sakhi and Balinee while the other two are Maahi from Gujarat and Paayas from Rajasthan having substantial number of women members. Managing Director, Saugata Mitra said on the occasion.

These organizations cover the entire value chain from milk procurement, production, sale to institutional buyers, processing for value-added products. This will revolutionize the dairy sector where more than 70 per cent farmers are small and marginal having upto 3 animals., Shri Shah said.

“They come knocking the branded market for true realization of their worth without middlemen. They stand proudly to be noticed and counted,’ he said.

NDDB’ and its wholly owned subsidiary NDS has facilitated creation of 20 such organization in the last 10 years and 18 are operational as of now with members pouring in 40 lakh litres of milk every day and their entry and expansion into value added products will help them overcome the vagaries of slack milk season.

Out of the operational 18 MPCs, 12 are 100 percent women owned institutions; wherein Shreeja, with operations in holy city of Tirupati, carries the distinction of being the first women centric MPC amongst all. Shreeja has also earned the distinction of becoming the world's largest women owned milk producer organization demonstrating true women empowerment at the grassroot level. Buoyed with its success, more women only producer organizations are encouraged to take shape.

Sakhi and Asha are the women dairy farmer organization in Alwar and Udaipur of Rajasthan while Balinee is a women centric MPC created in yet to fully developed region of Bundelkhand. These 4 have a total membership of over 2 lakh women dairy farmers, with daily pouring of around 8 lakh litres per day. Paayas, amongst the first MPCs in the country is procuring over 6.5 lakh litres of milk every day from about a lakh dairy farmer.

Besides Maahi, the leading MPC giant from Gujarat too is an established name in 10 districts of Saurashtra region with a membership of over 1 Lakh milk pourers and handles around 7 lakh litres of milk every day.

During the launch session, Shreeja unveiled their Cow Ghee and Mango Yoghurt, while Sakhi, Balinee and Maahi launched Ghee under their respective brands. Rajasthan based Asha too has expanded its value-added portfolio with introduction of their own branded Paneer and Curd. Paayas the first among the lot of MPCs also introduced the Cow Ghee drawing from the strength of rich cattle from Shekhwati region for distribution in the state and the pink city Jaipur.