State partners with NDDB and Gomati Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union to strengthen dairy cooperatives, boost milk production, and enhance farmer livelihoods.
Tripura has taken a major step toward transforming its dairy industry by signing a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Gomati Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited. The agreement aims to strengthen the state’s dairy cooperative network, increase milk production, and align Tripura’s dairy sector with the national vision of White Revolution 2.0.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who described the initiative as a significant milestone for the state’s agricultural and rural economy. The partnership brings together the Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD), NDDB, and the Gomati Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union to create a comprehensive framework for dairy sector development.
Under the agreement, a Comprehensive Cooperative Dairy Development Plan (CCDDP) will be formulated and implemented across the state. The plan focuses on strengthening dairy cooperatives, improving milk productivity, modernizing processing infrastructure, promoting digitalization, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for dairy farmers and livestock rearers.
Chief Minister Saha highlighted that Tripura currently produces approximately 2.63 lakh metric tonnes of milk annually, equivalent to nearly 7.2 lakh litres per day. He noted that milk production in the state has been growing steadily at around 6.5 percent per year, while per capita milk availability has reached 173 grams per person per day, the highest among the northeastern states.
Despite these achievements, only a limited share of milk enters the organized processing sector. The Chief Minister emphasized that greater procurement and improved processing capacity would help expand the production of value-added dairy products such as paneer, curd, ghee, lassi, ice cream, and sweets, creating additional income opportunities for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
The state’s dairy processing infrastructure is also expected to receive a major boost through the collaboration. NDDB will provide technical expertise, capacity-building support, infrastructure planning, and market development assistance, while the state government will offer policy and institutional support. The Gomati Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union will serve as the nodal implementing agency for the initiative.
Industry leaders and policymakers believe the agreement will play a crucial role in strengthening the rural economy by increasing farmer incomes, generating employment, and improving market access for dairy producers. The initiative is also expected to accelerate cooperative-led growth and position Tripura as an emerging dairy hub in Northeast India.
With the launch of this partnership, Tripura aims to build a more robust and self-sustaining dairy ecosystem, contributing to the broader national objective of expanding dairy production and empowering rural communities through cooperative development.