Over 12.5 lakh women milk producers empowered by govt infrastructure scheme

New Delhi: The Government of India has reported that approximately 12.52 lakh women milk producers have benefited from the Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) out of a total of 42.48 lakh milk producer members.

This initiative, effective from January 21, 2017, to January 30, 2024, aimed to modernize milk processing and chilling plants and enhance value addition in the dairy sector. As of June 2024, women represented a significant 30% of those covered under the scheme.

The DIDF was designed as an Infrastructure Development Scheme to provide milk producers with organized market access for their produce and increase employment opportunities in project areas. Following its success, the DIDF has been merged into the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). This new initiative extends the scheme’s benefits for another two years, from 2024 to 2026, with an allocated budget of ₹29,110.25 crore.

The AHIDF offers new opportunities for women, encouraging them to establish their own dairy businesses as individual entrepreneurs. Currently, AHIDF has provided assistance to six women entrepreneurs. Additionally, it supports dairy farmers, including women, through 157 financed projects, furthering the growth of the dairy industry in India.

The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, shared this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the government’s continued commitment to supporting women in the dairy sector.