♦ The Centre has launched a cooperative-led initiative, “White Revolution 2.0”, aimed at expanding cooperative coverage in the dairy sector, generating employment and strengthening women’s empowerment. The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Cooperation, seeks to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50 percent from the present level over the next five years by providing market access to dairy farmers in uncovered areas and increasing the share of dairy cooperatives in the organised sector.

♦ In absolute terms, milk procurement by dairy cooperatives is expected to reach 1,007 lakh kg per day by the end of 2028–29, the fifth year of implementation. The target will be achieved through a two-pronged strategy focusing on expanding the coverage of dairy cooperatives and deepening their reach.

♦ The programme also addresses issues of malnutrition through a series of activities under White Revolution 2.0. These include the setting up and strengthening of around 1.20 lakh new and existing Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), Multipurpose Dairy Cooperative Societies (M-DCS) and Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS). The cooperatives will be linked with milk routes through the expansion of existing routes or the creation of new ones.

♦ Under the initiative, 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies are proposed to be set up in uncovered areas, while 46,422 existing DCSs will be strengthened to enhance market access, income opportunities and nutritional availability.