Women entrepreneurs are helping reshape India’s dairy sector through farmer-led organisations, sustainable cattle-feed businesses and climate-smart production practices, according to a report published by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) on October 7, 2026.
The report highlights the work of two entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu who are combining business development with improved market access for farmers, more sustainable dairy practices and greater participation of women in rural economies.
Women account for nearly 70% of India’s dairy workforce, yet many continue to face barriers involving livestock ownership, control over income, land rights, access to technology and agricultural advisory services. Climate-related challenges, including extreme heat, water scarcity and unpredictable rainfall, add further pressure on dairy farmers and their livelihoods.
To address some of these challenges, EDF-India and Kumaraguru Institutions launched the Climate Smart Dairy Entrepreneurship Programme in Tamil Nadu in 2024. The programme supports entrepreneurs in adopting sustainable practices that can improve dairy productivity, business performance and climate resilience.
Women-Led Farmer Organisation Strengthens Market Access
Shanthra Prakash, founder and CEO of Pariyur Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), established a women-led organisation that enables members to market their milk collectively. The approach is designed to strengthen their bargaining power and help them negotiate better prices.
The organisation has built a network of more than 400 women, providing opportunities for members to support one another, develop business skills and adopt more sustainable dairy-production practices.
Prakash also established a Rural Dairy Mart, a one-stop facility offering quality cattle feed, affordable dairy equipment and veterinary health advice. The initiative currently supports around 1,000 rural farmers, with plans to expand its reach to more than 5,000 farmers across Tamil Nadu.
The model aims to improve farmers’ access to essential inputs and services while helping them produce higher-quality milk and build more profitable dairy operations.
Sustainable Silage Business Supports More Than 650 Farmers
The report also profiles Rajeshwari Venkatesh, co-founder of Sarvva Smaart Tech Solutions LLP, who developed the Sarvva Silage cattle-feed business with her son, Arun Venkatesh.
The business supplies nutritious maize-based silage to dairy farmers, helping improve cattle feeding and milk yields. According to EDF, the initiative serves more than 650 farmers and can also help reduce methane emissions per litre of milk through improved productivity.
The founders have also designed a lightweight silage bag to make feed easier to carry around farms. Since women frequently manage animal feeding, the design aims to reduce the physical burden of this daily task and improve work efficiency.
The business demonstrates how practical product design and improved cattle nutrition can support both farm productivity and women’s participation in dairy entrepreneurship.
Climate-Smart Practices and Women’s Economic Participation
EDF said equitable access to resources, technical knowledge and markets can help women strengthen their economic independence while adopting practices that improve climate resilience and reduce environmental impacts.
The organisation’s work in Tamil Nadu illustrates how local partnerships and entrepreneurship can help address persistent challenges in India’s largely smallholder-based dairy sector. The two examples also show how farmer organisations and businesses supplying agricultural inputs can contribute to improvements beyond milk production alone.
With 2026 recognised by the United Nations as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the report emphasises the importance of supporting women through inclusive policies, training, research and locally relevant business models.
For India’s dairy industry, these initiatives highlight the role women entrepreneurs can play in strengthening milk-market access, improving cattle nutrition, expanding rural services and encouraging more sustainable production practices.
Source: Dairynews7x7 09 Oct, 2026 Read full story here
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