In a landmark initiative to bolster India’s dairy cooperative sector, Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled the ‘White Revolution 2.0’ on Thursday. The comprehensive programme is designed to uplift women farmers and generate significant job opportunities across the country. As part of the government’s ongoing push to modernize agriculture, the initiative is set to transform the sector by enhancing milk production, improving dairy infrastructure, and boosting exports.
White Revolution 2.0 is one of three key initiatives undertaken during the first 100 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s third term in office. The programme targets four primary areas: empowering women in the dairy industry, increasing local milk production, upgrading the infrastructure of dairy cooperatives, and fostering the export of Indian dairy products.
Speaking at the launch, Shah highlighted the significant role women play in the dairy sector, particularly in states like Gujarat. “Maximum women are engaged in the dairy sector, with some generating business worth Rs 60,000 crore in Gujarat alone. This new initiative will focus on empowering women and further strengthening the fight against malnutrition,” Shah said.
Key Initiatives: Kisan Credit Cards and PACS Digitization
A major highlight of White Revolution 2.0 is the nationwide rollout of RuPay Kisan Credit Cards tailored for dairy farmers. The initiative also involves the installation of micro-ATMs at dairy cooperative societies, which will give rural dairy farmers easier access to financial services. These micro-ATMs aim to streamline the financial ecosystem for dairy producers, bringing banking to the doorsteps of millions of farmers.
To further boost the cooperative sector, Shah also launched the standard operating procedures for the computerization of 67,930 Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS). This digital transformation is expected to increase efficiency and transparency in dairy cooperatives, providing a modern financial framework for rural communities.
Aiming for a 50% Increase in Milk Procurement
Under White Revolution 2.0, the government has set an ambitious goal to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50% over the next five years. A key element of this strategy includes establishing and strengthening 100,000 new and existing district cooperative societies, multi-purpose district cooperative societies, and multi-purpose PACS. These societies will be linked to milk routes and supported with the necessary infrastructure to maximize milk production and streamline distribution.
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will initially fund the initiative, providing Rs 40,000 per M-PACS to 1,000 M-PACS. This funding will help build the capacity of these cooperatives, ensuring they can meet the growing demand for milk and dairy products, both domestically and internationally.
Full Budgetary Support Assured
Amid concerns about the financial viability of such a large-scale programme, Shah reassured the public that the government is fully committed to supporting the dairy sector. “Many have apprehensions about whether White Revolution 2.0 will get sufficient budgetary support. I assure full budget support for this as it is a top priority sector for the government,” Shah said.
Expanding Cooperation and Reforming the Sector
Another key component of White Revolution 2.0 is the nationwide expansion of the ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ initiative, which was successfully piloted in Gujarat. This programme will provide interest-free cash credit to dairy farmers through the newly launched RuPay-Kisan Credit Cards, further easing financial pressures on rural dairy producers.
By distributing micro-ATMs to dairy cooperatives, the initiative brings essential banking services directly to farmers, significantly improving their access to credit and other financial tools.
Shah also underscored the need for reforms in India’s cooperative sector, noting the lack of adequate reforms over the past 70 years. “While there were reforms in different sectors in the country in the past 70 years, timely reforms were not undertaken in the cooperative sector. The purpose behind establishing a separate cooperation ministry was to revive and modernise the cooperative sector and create job opportunities,” Shah said.
Impact on 130 Million Farmers
The government estimates that White Revolution 2.0, along with the other reforms, could benefit around 130 million farmers across the country. By modernizing the dairy cooperative sector, creating jobs, and empowering women, this initiative is expected to significantly contribute to India’s agricultural growth, and ultimately, the nation’s economy.
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