UP Women-Led Dairy Firms Record Rs 5716 Cr Turnover

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Women members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Uttar Pradesh are emerging as a growing force in the state’s rural dairy economy, with five women-led milk producer companies recording a combined business turnover of approximately ₹5,716.26 crore since 2019.

The five companies are part of the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Gramin Ajivika Mission with over 3.88 lakh women associated with them, operating in the 6,500 villages of 31 districts in the state. They engage in various activities in the dairy value chain from milk production, collection, processing and marketing, giving rural women opportunities to work throughout the value chain.

The scale of the initiative is evident from the companies collecting 12.5 lakh litres of milk on a daily basis. Women engaged in livestock rearing and dairy production are providing milk via organised collection system, thereby facilitating linkages with larger markets.

Key Highlights

• Women-led dairy firms in UP recorded ₹5,716.26 crore turnover
• More than 3.88 lakh women are associated with these companies
• The firms collect approximately 12.5 lakh litres of milk daily

The women entrepreneurs are present in various districts like Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Ballia, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Varanasi, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Fatehpur, Amethi, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Bareilly, Rampur etc.

Arun Kumar, the director of Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission, stated that women dairy farmers are becoming a new power in the rural economy. He highlighted that companies established through women’s groups are connecting women with the entire value chain, from production to business operations, positively influencing their incomes and economic activity in villages.

The model is also creating employment and income-generation opportunities through livestock rearing, milk collection and allied dairy activities. Dairy farming, which is mostly considered as a domestic activity, is gaining importance as a viable livelihood and enterprise source for rural women.

The Self-Help Groups are being linked with livelihood activities and are being promoted to take a step towards entrepreneurship and organised business under the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Gramin Ajivika Mission. The strategy is to create local income-generating opportunities for women and limit rural communities' need to move to other areas for jobs.

Dairy farming has emerged as an important avenue under this initiative, allowing women to participate in production as well as market-linked activities. The organised system of collection and marketing is facilitating women's access to market and contributing to household incomes as well as enhancing local economic activities.

The state of Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has focused on empowering the rural women economically in terms of livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurship. The expansion of women-led dairy enterprises reflects this focus by connecting SHG members with production, business operations and markets.

With further expansion planned, the initiative is strengthening women’s entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and rural livelihoods, while positioning women-led dairy enterprises as an important contributor to Uttar Pradesh’s rural economy.