Uttar Pradesh government taps NDDB to boost dairy processing

INDIA – The Uttar Pradesh government has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to modernize the Indian dairy industry and uplift rural livelihoods.

The agreement, executed through the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Dairy Federation (PCDF), entrusts NDDB with the operation of three major dairy processing plants: Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and Kannauj, as well as a central animal feed production plant in Ambedkarnagar.

Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman of the NDDB, explained that the MoU extends beyond operational handovers, aiming to establish exemplary dairy units that embody the next generation of India’s dairy development, grounded in efficiency, scalability, and a strong farmer-first approach.

These plants, once revitalised and run with NDDB’s technical expertise and management depth, are poised to become hubs of innovation, productivity, and quality assurance within the state’s dairy network.

“Previous administrations neglected critical sectors like dairy, causing significant farmer losses. Today, through initiatives like this NDDB partnership, we are witnessing a massive revival driven by dairy cooperatives and professional management,” Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The Kanpur dairy plant, constructed at a cost of ₹160.84 crore, boasts a capacity of 4 lakh litres/day. The Gorakhpur (₹61.8 crore) and Kannauj (₹88 crore) plants can each handle 1 lakh litres per day.

Although completed earlier, these units remained underutilised due to a lack of commercial buyers and high operational costs.

In addition, the agreement includes the operation of a central animal feed production unit in Ambedkarnagar, an important move aimed at ensuring a consistent and nutritious supply of feed for livestock. This is expected to improve milk yields and enhance the economic viability of dairy farming across the region.

The Ambedkarnagar-based feed unit, built at ₹18.44 crore, produces 100 tonnes per day of bypass protein feed, supplying affordable cattle nutrition to farmers statewide. It’s projected to generate ₹66.88 lakh in profit this financial year.

“Handing operations to NDDB ensures timely farmer payments, strong participation from local dairy cooperatives, strategic resource use, reduced expenses, and robust equipment maintenance—all without additional financial burden on the government,” PCDF official stated.

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