Uttar Pradesh reports record milk output of 38.8 million tonnes
Uttar Pradesh has retained its position as India’s largest milk-producing state, with output of 38.8 million metric tonnes. State officials linked the result and new rural employment to the Nand Baba Dairy Mission, cooperative expansion and additional processing capacity.
State accounts for about 16% of Indian production
Uttar Pradesh has reported milk production of 38.8 million metric tonnes, retaining the top position among Indian states. The figure was presented during Dairy Conclave 2026, held simultaneously across all 75 districts to mark the 50th anniversary of the Uttar Pradesh Dairy Development Department.
Dairy Commissioner Dhanlakshmi K. said India produces 248 million metric tonnes of milk and is the world’s largest producer. Uttar Pradesh contributes about 16% of that volume. The state’s output is therefore central to India’s dairy supply, affecting the availability of raw milk for households, cooperatives and processors.
According to Jagran, elected representatives, government officials, industry experts and thousands of livestock farmers attended the conclave. The event reviewed the increase in production and outlined further plans for the state’s dairy industry.
Nand Baba mission expands the cooperative base
The state government presented the Nand Baba Dairy Mission as a driver of rural income and employment. The programme has directly benefited 17,994 people so far. Authorities also linked the formation of 4,951 primary dairy cooperative societies to about 225,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
The cooperative expansion gives livestock farmers an organised route for aggregating and selling milk. For processors, a broader collection network can improve access to raw material, although the source did not provide procurement volumes, farmgate prices or utilisation rates. Those indicators will determine how much of the reported production can move into formal processing channels.
Approval and selection letters were distributed to newly selected beneficiaries of three additional programmes. These included 2,100 beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Indigenous Cow Promotion Scheme, more than 1,500 under the Mini Nandini Farmer Prosperity Scheme and more than 450 under the Nandini Farmer Prosperity Scheme.
Processing capacity and investment rise
Uttar Pradesh has signed 829 memoranda of understanding in the dairy sector with a stated value exceeding ₹280 billion, Jagran reported. The source did not specify how many projects have reached construction or commercial operation, so the investment figure represents announced commitments rather than confirmed operating assets.
Under the Uttar Pradesh Dairy Development Policy 2022, daily processing capacity has increased by 3.9 million litres. Investors have also received ₹420 million in grants through direct benefit transfers. The additional capacity is significant for processors seeking to absorb a larger share of the state’s milk, but it remains small relative to total annual production when the two figures are compared on a common basis.
The production milestone strengthens Uttar Pradesh’s role in India’s domestic dairy market. The immediate commercial test will be whether collection systems, cold-chain infrastructure and processing facilities expand fast enough to handle the available milk while maintaining reliable payments to farmers. The reported job creation and beneficiary numbers show the programme’s reach, while operating data from the new cooperatives and investment projects will be needed to measure its longer-term effect.
