The newly constructed dairy complex — Banas Kasi Sankul — in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency is expected to become a cornerstone of development for the region. To be inaugurated by the PM on February 23, the dairy complex will also write a new chapter for cooperatives, according to a press statement.
Over the past two years, the dairy cooperative has been providing training in scientific methods of animal husbandry and dairy industry to farmers in eastern UP, bringing about a transformation in both the dairy industry and animal husbandry sector.
This new model of cooperation will enhance the prosperity of farmers in the region.
Currently, the dairy cooperative’s business in Uttar Pradesh is spread across approximately 4,600 villages in 48 districts, including seven districts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. By next year, the expansion of milk collection is expected to reach 7,000 villages in 70 districts, including the addition of 15 new districts in eastern UP. There are already around 1,300 dairy cooperatives established in eastern UP, out of which more than 600 are currently operational. By the end of this year, the number of dairy cooperatives is expected to increase to 2,600. Presently, the dairy cooperative is working with around 3,50,000 milk producers in UP. In the coming days, by collaborating with farmers in villages, the dairy cooperative will add an additional 2,00,000 milk-producer families in the state, including 30,000 from Varanasi and 70,000 from other districts of eastern UP.
In eastern UP, chilling centres are operational in Khushipur, Cholapur, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, and Dobepur, and eight more chilling centres will be operational by next month. Currently, there are 29 chilling centres operational in UP, and by the end of this year, the number is expected to increase to 50.
Through this framework, currently, more than 1.9 million litres of milk is being collected daily from UP, including an average of 1,30,000 litres from Varanasi and nearly 300,000 litres from eastern UP.
Significant progress is expected in milk collection in the state, especially in eastern UP, by March 2025. The current daily milk collection of 1.9 million litres in UP is expected to increase to 2.5 million litres by March 2025, with 9,00,000 litres coming daily from Varanasi and eastern UP alone.
Milk ops in Purvanchal
Banas Dairy has a well-established milk collection network spanning seven districts in Purvanchal. It operates through 1,346 cooperatives, of which 618 are actively collecting milk from over 78,000 registered dairy-producing families. Currently, the daily milk collection from this region stands at approximately 2.93 lakh litres, translating to an annual collection of 63 million litres. The dairy sector in Purvanchal is witnessing significant growth. By the end of this year, the programme will expand to encompass 22 districts, involving the formation of 2,600 dairy cooperatives and registration of 1,00,000 dairy-producing families. Banas Dairy plans to establish 13 new milk chilling centers and increase daily milk procurement to seven lakh liters. This translates to an ambitious target of collecting 31 crore litres of milk annually from the region. This initiative is expected to result in a fivefold increase in Purvanchal’s annual milk collection, significantly boosting the local economy and empowering dairy farmers.
Churn in Varanasi too
Banas Dairy currently collects milk from 18,000 dairy-producing families in 372 villages across Varanasi, utilising a network of 192 cooperatives. They have already registered approximately 27,600 dairy-producing families in the district, demonstrating growing participation. Currently, Banas Dairy collects roughly 1.32 lakh litres of milk daily from Varanasi, amounting to an annual collection of 2.3 crore litres. By the end of the year, Banas Dairy aims to expand its reach to 524 villages in Varanasi, registering an additional 30,000 dairy-producing families. They are also establishing three milk chilling centers within the district, with two already operational. These efforts will propel daily milk collection to two lakh liters and a staggering 70 crore litres annually from Varanasi. This ambitious target represents a remarkable threefold increase in milk collection from the district in just one year.
