Bihar government plans initiatives to strengthen the dairy sector, enhance farmer income and improve milk production, says CM Nitish Kumar.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced that milk producers’ committees (MPCs) will be set up in the remaining 14,480 villages over the next two years, as part of a renewed push by the state government to strengthen the dairy sector. The initiative aims to increase income for milch-cattle owners and farmers who engage in milk production as an additional livelihood.
The Chief Minister also said that Sudha milk outlets will be established in every block and panchayat across the state. Panchayat-level outlets will be operated and managed by Jeevika Didis associated with self-help groups (SHGs) under the Mahila Rojgar Yojana, supporting women-led entrepreneurship in rural areas.
The increased focus on dairy development forms part of the government’s Saat Nishchay-3 programme, which targets the creation of employment and income opportunities for one crore youths over the next five years. Dairy and fisheries have been identified as key allied activities under the agriculture sector within this programme.
Explaining the initiative through a public communication, Nitish Kumar said that under the “Krishi Mein Pragati – Pradesh Mein Samriddhi” component of Saat Nishchay-3, the government has decided to establish MPCs in every village to ensure better prices for milk producers and promote organised dairy development.
The state currently has 39,073 revenue villages, of which 25,593 are already covered by MPCs. Instructions have been issued to the Animal and Fishery Resources Department to form MPCs in the remaining 14,480 villages within the next two years. The move is expected to boost farmers’ income as well as increase milk availability across the state.
While Sudha milk outlets are already operational in all 534 blocks, the government has now decided to expand the initiative to the panchayat level. Out of 8,053 panchayats, work has commenced in 100, and the remaining 7,953 panchayats are planned to be covered during the 2026–27 financial year.
The Chief Minister said priority will be given to allotting panchayat-level Sudha milk outlets to Jeevika Didis under the Mahila Rojgar Yojana, noting that the expansion of the dairy sector will generate employment opportunities within villages and strengthen rural livelihoods.