In a major step toward rural gender empowerment, one in three dairy cooperatives in Gujarat, India, is now led by women. Over 1.3 million women are actively participating in the cooperative dairy sector, supported by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Amul. This marks a transformative shift in rural governance, economic participation, and female leadership in agriculture.
In a groundbreaking development for rural India, one in every three dairy cooperatives in Gujarat is now headed by a woman. This significant shift has emerged from sustained efforts by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Gujarat-based dairy giant Amul, who have led inclusive development programs in the region.
More than 13 lakh women (1.3 million) are now active participants in Gujarat’s dairy cooperative network, not just as members but in management and governance roles. These women are redefining leadership in the dairy value chain—once dominated by men—by influencing decisions on procurement, quality, pricing, and community engagement.
The NDDB, headquartered in Anand, Gujarat, has played a pivotal role through its training and capacity-building programs focused on women’s participation in cooperatives. These initiatives include financial literacy, leadership mentoring, and exposure visits designed to build confidence and governance capabilities.
Amul, formally known as the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), has also actively supported women-led initiatives across the state’s dairy sector. Their extensive procurement network and village-level milk societies have served as platforms for women’s inclusion and economic empowerment.
“This is not just about gender parity,” said Meena Patel, a dairy society chairperson in Kheda. “It’s about ownership, voice, and recognition in a sector that sustains our villages.”
The shift reflects broader changes in Gujarat’s rural ecosystem. As more women become financially active, their influence in household and community decisions grows. Moreover, dairy farming has emerged as a resilient, income-generating activity for women, especially in marginal farming households.
According to NDDB, the inclusion of women has also improved operational efficiency, transparency, and member satisfaction in cooperative functioning.
This model holds promise for replication across other Indian states. Stakeholders in agribusiness, government, and finance are being urged to scale up gender-inclusive programs nationwide. Institutions like NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) are expected to play a catalytic role by offering targeted financial assistance for women-led cooperatives and smallholder entrepreneurs.
As India’s dairy industry continues to expand, women’s leadership is becoming not just a moral imperative—but an economic one.
