Gujarat Empowers Women via Dairy Cooperatives

Gandhinagar, Gujarat – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently emphasized that empowering women economically and socially, is vital for achieving a truly self-reliant India. As part of this vision, he has prioritized the cooperative model to strengthen women’s leadership in the rural economy. Advancing this vision under the guidance of Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has turned this vision into reality through its thriving cooperative sector.

On the occasion of International Cooperative Day, the Government of Gujarat released inspiring statistics showcasing the rising participation of women in cooperatives across the state. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of women-led dairy cooperative societies grew by 21% from 3,764 to 4,562.

25% Women on Milk Union Boards, and 12 Lakh Women Members

According to the Gujarat Cooperation Department, women’s leadership in the dairy sector is increasing significantly. In the year 2025, the board of milk union has 25% of women as 82 directors, which reflect their active participation in the policy making of milk unions. Furthermore, out of 36 lakh dairy producer members in Gujarat, approximately 12 lakh are women, accounting for nearly 32% of the total. 

Not only that, during the same period, women’s participation in the management committees of village-level cooperative societies has increased by 14%. The number of women in these committees has risen from 70,200 to 80,000. These women are now actively taking on key responsibilities such as policymaking, operations, and monitoring at the grassroots cooperative level.

Milk Procurement by Women-Led Cooperatives Up 39% to 5.7 Lakh LPD

On the special occasion of International Day of Cooperatives, data shared by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF) reveals that milk procurement by women-led dairy cooperative societies in Gujarat has increased by 39%, from 41 lakh litres per day in 2020 to 57 lakh litres per day in 2025. This now accounts for approximately 26% of the state’s total milk procurement.

Women-Led Dairy Cooperatives Cross ₹9,000 Crore in Annual Revenue with 43% Growth

Women-led dairy cooperatives in Gujarat have not only become a symbol of social transformation but also a significant contributor to the rural economy. In 2020, these cooperatives had an estimated daily revenue of ₹17 crore, amounting to approximately ₹6,310 crore annually. Over the past five years, this figure has risen to ₹25 crore per day by 2025, surpassing the estimated annual revenue of ₹9,000 crore. This reflects a remarkable increase of ₹2,700 crore in revenue, a 43% growth during this period. This success stands as a strong testament to the empowerment of women through the cooperative model.