The newly established Marathvarhad Milk Producer Organisation (MPO), a women-led initiative, has set an ambitious target to increase its daily milk procurement volume to 11 lakh kilograms within the next five years. The MPO also aims to achieve an annual turnover of Rs 1,800 crore while expanding its outreach to thousands of dairy farmers in Maharashtra.
This initiative builds upon the existing framework of the Vidarbha and Marathwada Dairy Development Project (VMDDP), which will now operate under the Marathvarhad MPO. This transition aligns with the National Dairy Development Board’s (NDDB) objective of promoting producer-owned organizations to empower farmers and enhance dairy production.
In 2013, NDDB and the Government of Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate dairy development in the drought-prone regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada. The primary goal was to create alternative, long-term sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers, particularly given that dairy farming provides a more stable source of income than traditional agriculture in these distressed areas.
Mother Dairy, a wholly owned subsidiary of NDDB, was entrusted with the responsibility of providing market access to milk producers under VMDDP. Since its launch in 2016, the project has been operational across ten districts: Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Buldhana in Vidarbha, along with Nanded, Osmanabad, Latur, and Jalna in Marathwada.
Currently, the project collects 4 lakh liters of milk daily from approximately 35,000 dairy farmers. The milk is procured from 2,500 Milk Pooling Points (MPPs) established across these districts. The strong participation of farmers in this initiative demonstrates their confidence and trust in the project’s efficiency and benefits.
Recognizing the growth potential of the dairy sector in these regions, the women-owned Marathvarhad Milk Producer Organisation was officially incorporated on January 9, 2025. Headquartered in Nagpur, the MPO aims to extend its reach across 6,000 villages in Vidarbha and Marathwada, enrolling 1.85 lakh women dairy farmers as members.
The new MPO will integrate the existing VMDDP operations and operate under the guidance of NDDB Dairy Services (NDS), a not-for-profit subsidiary of NDDB with extensive experience in facilitating farmer-owned organizations. While Marathvarhad MPO will focus on milk procurement, Mother Dairy will continue to provide forward linkage, ensuring market access for the collected milk.
The Marathvarhad MPO plans to implement an automated, transparent milk collection system across all intervention villages. This system will ensure regular and timely payments directly to the bank accounts of women members, reinforcing financial independence and economic empowerment.
In addition, the MPO will provide technical input services to dairy farmers, including doorstep delivery of quality feed and fodder, thereby improving milk productivity. Capacity-building initiatives for Producer Directors, members, and other stakeholders will also be a key focus, ensuring the sustainable growth of the dairy sector.
Through these concerted efforts, the Marathvarhad MPO is set to revolutionize dairy farming in Maharashtra, providing women with significant economic opportunities and ensuring a sustainable, farmer-led dairy ecosystem.
