Madhya Pradesh to Become India’s Dairy Capital – Major Government Reforms in Dairy and Gopalan

The Madhya Pradesh government has taken a major step toward becoming India’s dairy capital. During a Gaushala Sammelan held on June 20 at the CM House, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced that the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department will now be renamed as the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Gopalan.

Key Announcements by the Chief Minister:

• The state will purchase grain grown with natural cow dung-based manure at higher-than-market rates.
• Efforts will be made to increase the number of milk cooperatives from 9,000 to 26,000.
• The aim is to make Madhya Pradesh the “Dairy Capital of India.”
• Rs. 90 crore in feed subsidy has been transferred online to registered gaushalas at Rs. 40 per cow.
• The Bhagwan Birsa Munda Kamdhenu Yojana has been launched to support livestock owners.

Support for Gaushalas and Cow Welfare

Seven gaushalas from districts including Bhopal, Damoh, Anuppur, Raisen, Chhindwara, Harda, and Vidisha were honored for their contribution to cow welfare. Certificates were also issued to 73 newly registered gaushalas. CM Yadav declared that the government will allocate 125 acres of land for building large-scale gaushalas.

Massive Budget Hike for Animal Husbandry

In 2022-23, the department’s budget was only Rs. 300 crore. In the latest announcement, the budget has been increased to Rs. 2,600 crore. This reflects the government’s strong intent to boost milk production and dairy development in the state.

Milk Procurement & NDDB Partnership

Earlier, milk was purchased based on fat content, making it difficult for cow milk to be sold. The policy has now been changed, and cow milk will also be procured to support gopalaks financially. Madhya Pradesh has also partnered with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to multiply milk production fivefold. Currently, the state produces around 5.5 crore liters of milk, with half used domestically and the rest entering the market.