Five companies formed under Self-Help Groups (SHGs) affiliated with the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Gramin Ajivika Mission have collectively recorded a business turnover of approximately ₹5,716.26 crore since 2019, marking a significant milestone in the state's rural dairy economy. More than 3.88 lakh women are now associated with these enterprises, which span 31 districts and over 6,500 villages across Uttar Pradesh.

Scale of Daily Operations

The five women-led milk producer companies collectively handle approximately 12.5 lakh litres of milk every day, covering the full value chain from livestock rearing and milk collection to processing and marketing. Their operations extend across cities including Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, and more than two dozen other urban centres.

An organised milk collection system has been a key enabler, making it easier for women producers in remote rural belts to access markets that were previously out of reach. This structured approach has transformed what was once a household activity into a formalised, income-generating enterprise.

What Officials Said

Arun Kumar, Director of the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission, said women dairy producers are emerging as a new force in the rural economy. According to Kumar, companies established through women's groups are connecting women with the entire value chain — from production to business operations — positively impacting their incomes and the economic activity of villages.

He added that increased participation in livestock rearing, milk collection, and allied activities is giving momentum to the local economies of rural households.

Policy Push Under Mission Framework

The initiative operates under the Rajya Gramin Ajivika Mission, which channels SHGs towards livelihood activities and entrepreneurship. A stated objective of the programme is to provide women with local income-generating opportunities, reducing dependence on migration to urban centres for employment.

Dairy farming has emerged as a central pillar of this effort. Livestock rearing, traditionally viewed as a domestic activity, is being systematically repositioned as a viable commercial enterprise — with women's group companies serving as the institutional vehicle for that transition.

Broader Economic Impact

The model's reach — already covering more than 6,500 villages across 31 districts — is being linked to Uttar Pradesh's wider economic ambitions. By connecting women with production, entrepreneurship, and markets, the programme is reportedly expanding economic activity in rural areas, enhancing purchasing power of rural households, and boosting local businesses. Plans for further geographic expansion are reportedly underway, though a specific timeline has not been disclosed.