Milk procurement in Gujarat has increased fivefold, reaching 250 lakh litres per day in 2024-25, up from 50 lakh litres daily in 2001-02, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the minister attributed the substantial rise in procurement to various government initiatives that have improved the dairy sector in the state.
Milk Procurement Rises
Along with the growth in procurement, there has been a significant rise in the income of dairy farmers, according to the minister.
Amit Shah highlighted that milk prices paid to farmers have increased by 140% over the past 15 years. The average price of milk procurement has risen from Rs 400/kg fat to Rs 950/kg fat.
This price hike has been instrumental in enhancing the chilling and procurement capacities of milk unions across Gujarat.
Government Schemes Contributing to Growth
Home Minister Amit Shah pointed out that a range of government schemes have played a crucial role in boosting milk procurement.
These include the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD). They also involve the Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF).
These initiatives have supported infrastructure modernisation and value-added facilities. They have also contributed to breed improvement, fodder development, and capacity building within the dairy sector.
Under the NPDD, Gujarat has received a total grant of Rs 315 crore over the past seven years, with a total project outlay of Rs 515 crore.
The funds have installed 2,052 bulk milk coolers, 4,309 automatic collection systems, and 1,000 adulteration detection machines, enhancing procurement efficiency and transparency.
DIDF and AHIDF projects include expanding processing plants, setting up UHT lines, and creating milk powder facilities.
Gujarat boasts a well-established dairy cooperative network. According to the National Cooperative Database (NCD) portal, there are 15,740 functional Dairy Cooperative Societies in the state.
The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF), which operates the iconic Amul brand, leads this network, consisting of 18 district unions and over 36 lakh members.
Amul’s Role in Gujarat’s Dairy Success
Currently, Amul procures around 250 lakh litres of milk per day from Gujarat through its cooperative network.
This positions Gujarat as one of India’s top milk producers, driven by its strong cooperative system and infrastructure investments.
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