Milk Collection Centres Under Cooperative Framework

Milk collection centres of GCMMF, which markets dairy items under the Amul brand, and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will be brought under a cooperative framework to ensure that farmers get adequate profit, the government told a Parliamentary panel.

On Monday, a Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing presented a report on demands for grants (2026-27) for the Ministry of Cooperation in the Lok Sabha.

In the course of evidence, the committee said: "It raised the point that the profit of purchase of milk is not reaching the farmers and is being cornered by big cooperatives and money from all regions being diverted to states where such large cooperatives are headquartered".

In its written reply to the panel on this issue, the ministry informed that "to ensure the profit goes to the farmers from whom the milk is being procured", it has taken an initiative to bring the Milk Collection Centres (MCCs) and Milk Pooling Points (MPPs) of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) under the cooperative framework.

Under this initiative, about 45,000 MCCs/MPPs are proposed to be registered as Multi-Purpose Village Cooperative Societies (M-VCS) and enrolled as members of Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation Ltd (SPCDF) and National Cooperative Milk Producer Organisation Ltd (NCMPOL), as applicable, both being multi-state cooperative societies.

"The committee trust that such measures will help to protect the interests of farmers at village levels and would like to be informed about the outcome of this measure, state-wise," the report said.

The panel also pitched for the creation of an independent election authority for the Cooperative.

The Centre, in consultation with state governments, should evolve a comprehensive national framework for strengthening cooperative electoral governance.

"The framework should encourage states to establish or reinforce an independent State Cooperative Election Authority, ensure strict timelines for elections before the expiry of the tenure of boards, and promote digitisation and transparency in electoral processes," the report said.

Source : Dairynews7x7 March 28th 2026 PTI