The Central Government launched Cooperative-led White Revolution 2.0 to expand dairy cooperatives, boost rural employment, and strengthen women’s participation.

Historical Background

What is White Revolution in India?

• On January 13, 1970, India''s National Dairy began Operation Flood, the greatest dairy development initiative in the world.
• It made India, a country with a milk shortage, the world''s top producer of milk, surpassing the United States of America in 1998.
• It was started to aid farmers in development by allowing them to manage the resources they produce.
• All of this was made possible by mass production, which has come to be known as the "White Revolution."
• The technology that completely transformed India''s organized dairy industry was the production of skim milk powder from buffalo milk. Harichand Megha Dalaya was the one responsible for making this happen.
• The dairy cooperative Amul''s Anand Pattern Experiment was the key to the program''s success.
• Dr. Verghese Kurien, the chairman of the National Dairy Development Board, was in charge when Operation Flood began.
• Dr. Kurien advanced the cooperatives to support the revolution with his exemplary management abilities.
• He is credited with being the "Father of the White Revolution" in India.
• Every year on November 26th, India observes National Milk Day, which is the birth anniversary of Dr. Varghese Kurien.

• Institutional Foundation: The National Dairy Development Board (1965), with Verghese Kurien as Chairman, laid the institutional and strategic base for Operation Flood.
• White Revolution: Operation Flood (White Revolution 1.0) made India the world’s largest milk producer by 1998; White Revolution 2.0 is now a modernised cooperative expansion with a gender focus.

White Revolution - Objectives

• The operation flood was founded on the cooperatives of local milk farmers.
• They obtained milk and offered the services while making the most use of contemporary technology and management.

The following are the objectives of the White Revolution:

• Increasing production to produce a flood of milk;
• Increase in rural incomes;
• Reasonable costs for customers; and
• A consistent supply of milk in exchange for a rise in income and a decline in poverty among participating farmers.

White Revolution - Phases

Phase I

• Phase 1 of the white revolution (aka Operation Flood) began in July 1970 to establish dairy cooperatives in 18 milk sheds across ten states and connect them to the four best metropolitan markets.
• By 1981, India had 13,000 village dairy cooperatives covering 15,000 farmers.

Phase II

• The second phase of the operation, based on the designs of phase 1, aided dairy development programs in Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Urban markets also boosted the number of milk outlets to 290 during Phase II (1981–1985), which saw a rise in the milk shed numbers from 18 to 136.
• A self-sustaining network of 43,000 village co-operatives with 4,250,000 milk producers was in place by the end of 1985.
• Along with direct milk marketing by producers'' cooperatives, domestic milk powder production increased.

Phase III

• Phase III gave dairy cooperatives the opportunity to build and develop the infrastructure needed to acquire and market rising milk quantities.
• Co-operative members'' access to feed, artificial insemination, and veterinary first-aid services were increased, along with member education efforts.
• Phase III of Operation Flood consolidated India''s dairy cooperative movement, adding 30,000 new cooperatives to the 42,000 already established during Phase II.
• Milksheds peaked at 173 in 1988-89, with the number of female members and Women''s Dairy Cooperative Societies significantly increasing.
• Phase III placed a greater emphasis on animal health and nutrition research and development.
• Innovations such as the Theileriosis vaccine, bypass protein feed, and urea-molasses mineral blocks all contributed to increased milch animal productivity.

White Revolution - Role of Amul

• Verghese Kurien, Shri Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, and Harichand Megha Dalaya, collectively known as the Amul trinity, were instrumental in the success of this venture.
• Amul is an Indian dairy cooperative association with headquarters in the Gujarat city of Anand.
• It was established in 1946 and is a cooperative brand run by the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF).
• India''s "White Revolution," sparked by Amul, made it the world''s top producer of milk and dairy products.
• Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri appointed Verghese Kurien, the CEO, and founder of Amul, to lead NDDB.
• The success of Amul has inspired comparable movements in other Indian agricultural products.
• These industries create standards for businesses around the world to follow and adapt, excelling in fields like branding, marketing, and management.
• Amul has gradually developed itself as a laboratory, producing significant inventions and developing its own technologies, increasing its competitiveness against multinational corporations.
• Building on the solid basis its visionary leader laid, Amul Cooperative Model has progressively increased the number of products in its lineup while also adding new ones.
• Other dairy cooperatives like Nandini in Karnataka, Aavin in Tamil Nadu, and Verka in Punjab look forward to Amul as one of India''s most well-known food brands for inspiration.

Historical Background

• Institutional Foundation: The National Dairy Development Board (1965), with Verghese Kurien as Chairman, laid the institutional and strategic base for Operation Flood.
• White Revolution: Operation Flood (White Revolution 1.0) made India the world’s largest milk producer by 1998; White Revolution 2.0 is now a modernised cooperative expansion with a gender focus.

India’s Milk Production Leadership

• Global Leader: India ranks first in milk production, contributing over 25% of global output.
• Record Output: Milk production reached 239.3 million tonnes in 2023–24.
• Decadal Growth: Output rose 63.56% from 146.3 MT (2014–15) to 239.3 MT (2023–24).
• Growth Rate: India’s milk production grew at 5.7% annually, far above the global 2%.
• Per Capita Supply: Milk availability stands at 471 g/person/day vs. the global average of 322 g.

White Revolution 2.0: Key Features

• Aim: White Revolution 2.0 targets a 50% rise in cooperative milk procurement over five years.
• Procurement: Cooperative milk procurement is projected to reach 1,007 lakh kg/day by 2028–29.
• Funding Mechanism: The initiative is financed under the National Dairy Development Programme (NPDD) 2.0, implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• Institutional Expansion: Setting up and strengthening of around 1.20 lakh new and existing Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), Multipurpose Dairy Cooperative Societies (M-DCS) and Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS).
• New Cooperatives: 75,000 new DCSs will be established in uncovered areas to improve farmer market access and incomes.
• Capacity Strengthening: 46,422 existing DCSs will be upgraded to enhance procurement efficiency and nutritional availability.
• Infrastructure Support: Provision of Automatic Milk Collection Units (AMCU), Data Processing Milk Collection Units (DPMCU), milk testing units and bulk milk coolers will modernise collection & quality.
• Women Workforce: Nearly 70% of dairy farm labour comprises women, engaged in milking, feeding and animal care.
• The National Programme for Dairy Development: Launched in 2014 and restructured in 2021, develops infrastructure for milk procurement, processing, and marketing nationwide.

Key Drivers of India’s Dairy Sector

• Cooperative Networks: NDDB and ~1.7 lakh Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs) organise milk procurement, processing, and marketing.
• Women Workforce: ~70% of dairy labour, driving productivity, income, and empowerment.
• Rising Domestic Demand: Milk consumption ~471 g/person/day; urbanisation and dietary changes fuel demand.
• Technological Adoption: Milk testing units, bulk milk coolers, and Automatic Milk Collection Units improve quality and efficiency.
• Genetic Improvement: Crossbreeding and indigenous breed conservation enhance per-animal milk yield. E.g., 8.55 kg/day for crossbred cattle.
• Market Linkages: Expanding organised market channels reduces dependence on middlemen and ensures fair prices.

Socio-Economic Significance of the Dairy Sector

• Rural Income: White Revolution 2.0 targets 50% rise in milk procurement from 660 → 1,007 lakh kg/day by 2028–29, boosting small farmer earnings.
• Women Empowerment: Women form ~70% of the dairy workforce; cooperatives enhance their income control and decision-making roles.
• Nutritional Security: Ensures consistent milk availability (~471 g/person/day), improving protein intake and reducing malnutrition in children.
• Economic Output: Dairy contributes ~40% of the agriculture-livestock sector output (~Rs 11.16 lakh crore) and livelihoods for 8.5 crore people.
• Regional Growth: Expansion in UP, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh reduces coverage gaps (<10% in some regions) and strengthens rural development.

Government Initiatives for the Development of the Dairy Sector

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: It is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2014 to enhance milk productivity through genetic improvements and conservation of indigenous cattle breeds.
• NPDD: The National Programme for Dairy Development, launched in 2014 and restructured in 2021, develops infrastructure for milk procurement, processing, and marketing nationwide.
• NLM: The National Livestock Mission, realigned in 2021–22, promotes employment, entrepreneurship, and productivity in the livestock sector.
• LHDCP: The Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (2024–26) enhances animal health through vaccination and disease prevention.
• AHIDF: The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, launched in 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat, promotes investment in dairy processing and value-addition infrastructure.

Challenges

• Coverage Gap: Many states, such as WB, Assam, Odisha, and Jharkhand, and the Northeast (<10% villages), have lower cooperative coverage than Gujarat, Kerala, and Sikkim (>70%).
• Infrastructure Deficit: Most DCSs lack modern milk collection, testing, and chilling units, resulting in losses and quality deterioration.
• Market Vulnerability: ~Two-thirds of milk sold through the unorganised sector causes price fluctuations and low farmer returns.
• Climate Stress: Heat waves, water scarcity, and feed shortage reduce productivity and threaten livelihoods.
• Women’s Barriers: Despite ~70% workforce participation, women face limited access to credit, training, and decision-making opportunities.

Way Forward

• Productivity Boost: Promote crossbreeding, veterinary services, and feed/fodder management to increase per-animal yield and resilience.
• Women Strengthening: Support women-led cooperatives with training, credit access, and formal recognition in income and governance.
• Market Stabilisation: Increase cooperative share in organised marketing, promote value-added products like cheese, ghee, yoghurt.
• Policy Support: Implement NPDD 2.0 effectively, provide financial assistance, training, and state-specific action plans.
• Climate Practices: Adopt sustainable fodder, water-efficient, and solar-powered chilling systems with disease prevention and waste management.
• White Revolution 2.0 can become India’s “second dairy leap” if cooperative deepening, region-specific strategies, climate-resilient dairying, women-led governance, and organised market integration converge to deliver inclusive, nutritious, and sustainable rural growth.