Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Madhur Dairy’s automated milk processing plant in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, highlighting White Revolution 2.0, women empowerment, and cooperative-led rural development.
May 2026: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the state-of-the-art automated milk processing and packaging plant of Madhur Dairy Unit-2 at Dashela in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on May 17, 2026. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Gujarat Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and several dignitaries were present at the inauguration ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah described the modern dairy facility as more than just an industrial project, calling it a major step toward the economic empowerment of lakhs of milk-producing families, particularly rural women. Spread across 15 acres and developed at an estimated cost of ₹128 crore, the plant currently has a capacity to process 2.5 lakh liters of milk per day, with plans to expand to 5 lakh liters per day in the coming years.
He stated that a substantial share of the profits generated from the project would directly benefit milk producers, thereby strengthening the rural economy. Highlighting the transformative impact of the dairy cooperative model, Shah said that women who were once limited to household responsibilities are now playing a significant role in enhancing their families’ economic stability through dairy-related activities.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Dairy Companies in India (2026 Updated List)
ALSO READ: Home Minister Inaugurated Dairy Infrastructure to Boost Ladakh’s Rural Economy
The Minister further noted that carrying forward the cooperative legacy established by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Tribhuvandas Patel, and Dr. Verghese Kurien, Madhur Dairy has evolved into a trusted and influential dairy institution. Starting in 1971 with milk collection of only 6,000 litres and a turnover of ₹7,000, the dairy has now grown into an organisation with an annual turnover of ₹628 crore and an extensive network for milk collection, processing, and distribution. Shah described this growth as a strong example of the success of India’s cooperative model.
Speaking about the future of the dairy sector, Amit Shah said that India has embarked on “White Revolution 2.0,” an initiative aimed at tripling the country’s milk production over the next decade. He highlighted that leading Gujarat-based cooperatives, such as Amul, Banas Dairy, and Mehsana Dairy are adopting world-class technologies to improve the income of livestock farmers while ensuring that the benefits reach producers directly through cooperative frameworks.
ALSO READ: Navigating Regulatory Compliance Maze for Agricultural and Dairy Products
ALSO READ: Cheese Packaging Trends: How Packaging is Shaping the Dairy Delight Market
Shah also pointed out that cooperative dairies, including Amul, are making significant progress in developing value-added nutritional products such as protein shakes, probiotic curd, and high-protein beverages. He said the cooperative system’s greatest strength lies in ensuring that the profits generated from such innovations are passed on to farmers and livestock rearers.
He further informed that nearly 36 lakh women are currently associated with milk production, amounting to around 3 crore liters per day, and that approximately ₹200 crore is transferred directly into their bank accounts every day through cooperative dairy networks. According to Shah, this represents not only an economic activity but also a large-scale movement promoting women’s empowerment and self-reliance in rural India.
The Union Minister also highlighted the launch of Amul’s AI Digital Assistant, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the AI Summit. Named “Sarlaben,” the platform is designed to provide technological assistance to rural women and livestock farmers, making advanced technology more accessible to villages and small dairy producers.
Amit Shah added that adopting circular economy principles in the dairy sector is expected to increase dairy incomes by at least 20 per cent in the coming years. He reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening the cooperative dairy sector through modern technology, innovation, and value addition. During the programme, women milk producers associated with dairy cooperative societies presented a Madhur Dairy product kit to the Union Minister, who also distributed certificates to representatives of milk producer societies. The inauguration of Madhur Dairy Unit-2 is expected to accelerate cooperative-led rural development, create improved livelihood opportunities for dairy farmers, and further strengthen India’s dairy value chain through sustainable and technology-driven cooperative models.
Have a news or topic to share with industry? Write to us editorial@pfionline.com
