47K Women Gain Self-Reliance Via Dairy in Uttar Pradesh
Nearly 47,000 rural women in the Gorakhpur division of Uttar Pradesh have achieved financial self-reliance by participating in the dairy value chain under the Shri Baba Gorakhnath Kripa Milk Producer Organisation (MPO), an initiative supported by the State Rural Livelihood Mission and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Established on November 26, 2023, the MPO has become a powerful model of women-led dairy entrepreneurship in eastern UP.
In just over two years, the MPO has clocked an impressive turnover of ₹192 crore, distributing more than ₹155 crore directly to women shareholders, significantly enhancing household incomes across four districts — Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Deoria and Kushinagar. Members operate 500+ milk pooling points, collectively supplying 1.5 lakh+ litres of milk daily to Mother Dairy, illustrating robust rural procurement and market linkages.
The socioeconomic impact is evident: about 2,000 women have attained “Lakhpati Didi” status (earning over ₹1 lakh annually), while most others earn ₹7,000–₹8,000 per month from home-based milk production and related activities. The MPO’s structure empowers women not only as milk suppliers but also as shareholders, ensuring that value accrues directly to participants rather than intermediaries.
In a recent Diwali gesture, the MPO distributed ₹53.16 lakh as loyalty incentives and dividends (₹8 per share) among women shareholder members, reinforcing the sustainability and profitability of the women-driven cooperative model.
This initiative draws inspiration from other successful women-centric dairy enterprises such as the Balini Milk Producer Company in Bundelkhand, and is part of broader efforts to strengthen dairy value chains while promoting economic empowerment and self-reliance among rural women.
SOURCE : DAIRYNEWS7X7 FEB 4TH 2026 TOI
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