Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Oct 10: The Gujarat government has launched an initiative to strengthen dairy-based livelihoods and promote economic self-reliance among rural women by linking women milk producers with self-help groups (SHGs), dairy cooperatives and institutional credit facilities.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among the Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company Limited (GLPC), the Cooperation Department and the Animal Husbandry Department in Rajkot in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, according to an official release.

The agreement aims to improve coordination between women’s SHGs operating under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Gujarat’s dairy cooperative network and the technical services provided by the Animal Husbandry Department.
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Under the initiative, women engaged in milk production at the village level will be linked with SHGs and gradually organised into women’s dairy producer groups and, where necessary, producer enterprises. The move is intended to help women build organised, sustainable dairy businesses rather than depend solely on individual milk production.

The programme will facilitate access to financial assistance through SHGs, including bank linkages, institutional credit and loans to purchase livestock. Women will also receive support for essential dairy equipment and infrastructure, along with guidance on interest subsidies, subject to eligibility and fund availability.

The Animal Husbandry Department will provide technical services, including balanced animal feed, vaccination, deworming, artificial insemination, breed improvement and animal healthcare. It will also guide women in selecting suitable livestock and planning their dairy-related livelihood activities.

Meanwhile, the Cooperation Department will connect women producers with milk cooperative societies and district milk unions. GLPC will identify beneficiaries, facilitate access to credit and help strengthen producer groups.

The initiative will also encourage women’s groups to expand into value-added activities such as collective procurement of animal feed, milk collection, quality improvement, packaging, branding, processing and marketing. This is expected to enable women to participate across the dairy value chain and potentially improve their earnings.

State- and district-level coordination and monitoring committees will be established to oversee implementation and periodically review progress.

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Minister Jitu Vaghani said integrating SHGs, institutional credit and dairy cooperatives would create new opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs. He added that the government aims to sustainably increase women’s incomes through scientific animal husbandry, improved animal healthcare, higher milk productivity and quality, and greater value addition, while strengthening rural household incomes. (With ANI inputs)