Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, has underlined the central role of India’s dairy sector in sustaining rural livelihoods and advancing inclusive growth. He described dairy as a source of daily income for small and marginal farmers, offering stability that seasonal agriculture often lacks.
Shah noted that over the last decade, the dairy industry has expanded by 70%, making it the fastest-growing dairy sector in the world. During this period, milk production surged from 146 million tonnes to 239 million tonnes, while the number of milch animals increased from 86 million to 112 million.
White Revolution 2.0: Building on Past Success
To consolidate these gains, the government launched White Revolution 2.0, a five-year programme (2024-25 to 2028-29) designed to strengthen cooperatives and enhance sectoral efficiency. By 2029, milk procurement by cooperatives is projected to reach 1,007 lakh kg per day.
This initiative builds on the foundations of the original White Revolution of the 1970s, pioneered by Dr Verghese Kurien, which made India self-sufficient in milk production. While the first revolution brought scale and sufficiency, the second aims to deliver modernisation, diversification, and grassroots empowerment.
Launched formally in December 2024, White Revolution 2.0 includes a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline cooperative functioning. Its goals extend beyond production to include women’s empowerment, job creation, enhanced fodder and animal health research, and expansion of farmer-owned institutions.
Balancing Domestic Priorities and Global Pressures
The dairy sector, valued at over USD 150 billion, remains critical for India’s nutrition security, rural employment, and cooperative ethos. Seasonal fluctuations are mitigated by a national milk grid and procurement mechanisms, which safeguard farm-gate prices.
However, India faces growing external trade pressure, particularly from the United States, which seeks zero-duty access to India’s dairy market. American negotiators have tied dairy concessions to wider trade demands in energy, services, and manufacturing. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently urged New Delhi to “play ball” on market access if it wishes to expand its footprint in the US consumer market.
This underscores the delicate balance India must maintain: protecting farmers’ livelihoods while engaging in strategic trade negotiations.
