India is on the brink of its second ‘White Revolution,’ according to Meenesh C. Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Speaking on Saturday, October 11, 2025, Mr. Shah highlighted the critical need for India’s thriving dairy sector to pivot towards greater value addition and expand its export horizons. This strategic shift, he explained, is essential for boosting profit margins and significantly increasing the incomes of dairy farmers nationwide.
Mr. Shah delivered his remarks at a key State-level seminar in Thiruvananthapuram, an event co-hosted by the NDDB and the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma). The seminar served as a dual celebration, marking both the UN-declared ‘International Year of Cooperatives’ and the auspicious diamond jubilee of the NDDB itself.
He elaborated on the vision for White Revolution 2, which centers on fortifying dairy cooperatives nationwide and dramatically increasing daily milk procurement to over 10 crore liters within the next four to five years. This ambitious target will be achieved by integrating a larger number of farmers into the cooperative framework. ‘We have now started conceptualizing White Revolution 2,’ Shah affirmed.
The NDDB has already launched significant initiatives to address key challenges, focusing on improving animal breeding, health, and nutrition to boost productivity. Mr. Shah also pointed out the persistent issues of milk and milk product adulteration and the need to expand the organized dairy sector’s market share.
Remarkably, despite substantial advancements, 60% to 65% of India’s milk supply remains within the unorganized sector. The NDDB is committed to shifting this balance, aiming to increase the organized sector’s share from 65% to 70%. Furthermore, a major focus is placed on significantly enhancing the proportion of value-added dairy products.
Boosting Farmer Incomes and Global Exports
To ensure farmers earn more from the same amount of milk, cooperatives must prioritize developing a larger portfolio of value-added products. Crucially, the Indian dairy sector needs to prepare itself for a strong presence in the global export market over the next 10 to 25 years. Currently, India’s dairy exports constitute a mere 0.5% of the world market. A significant obstacle to increasing exports is the persistent threat of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in India. However, Mr. Shah noted that ongoing vaccination programs have already led to a reduction in FMD outbreaks, paving the way for future export growth.
The seminar was officially opened by Minister for Animal Husbandry J. Chinchurani, who expressed confidence in Kerala’s potential to emerge as India’s leading milk-producing state. She articulated the state’s ambition to achieve self-sufficiency in milk production by implementing measures to reduce costs and enhance overall productivity.
Also in attendance were other prominent figures, including Milma chairman K.S. Mani, NDDB Executive Director S. Rajeev, Mani Viswanath and Valsalan Pillai (Chairpersons of the Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Unions, respectively), Dairy Development director Shalini Gopinath, Milma managing director Asif K. Yusuf, and Kerala Bank chief executive officer Jorty M. Chacko.