Supported by the Odisha State Cooperative Bank, the program has already deployed terminal devices to 55 village-level milk societies across key milksheds. This includes 35 societies in Cuttack district and 20 societies in Sambalpur district. Equipped with electronic data capture technology and biometric/card verification capabilities, these micro-ATMs allow smallholder producers to execute instant cash withdrawals and basic banking operations directly from their local cooperative collection centers.

OMFED Managing Director Vijay Amruta Kulange highlighted that the initiative solves an acute operational hurdle for dairy households, who previously had to travel long distances to distant commercial bank branches or urban ATMs to collect their milk dues. The challenge becomes particularly severe during the monsoon season, when heavy rains, local flooding, and disrupted rural transport networks make travel difficult and costly for smallholders.

Beyond improving convenience, the integration of micro-ATMs strengthens transparency and financial security across OMFED’s primary procurement network. By linking milk payments directly to bank accounts and facilitating immediate, verified cash withdrawals at the point of milk delivery, the system minimizes reliance on cash-heavy intermediaries, reduces payment delays, and ensures that dairy earnings reach farmers directly.