Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as the new face of White Revolution in the current scenario. Baramulla district produced over 5.5 lakh litres of milk on a daily basis in the district in the year 2022-23. The state has a long history of producing milk on such a large scale. In the year 2011-12 Jammu region produced around 7.86 lakh litres and Kashmir produced around 7.69 lakh litres of milk. In 2011-2012, only Baramulla district produced around 1.21 lakh litres of milk in the state.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned in the radio show ‘Mann ki Baat’ that the district of Baramulla in north Kashmir is producing 5.5 lakh litres of milk daily and becoming the face of White Revolution 2.0. The PM started by stating “how Nadru (lotus stem) from Kashmir is relished popularly throughout the world for its many health benefits”. Further, shed light on how the district was facing shortage of milk, which is why the citizens took it as a challenge to increase their production. People in general and especially women came forward in large numbers to face this challenge and increase the production of milk”. Interestingly, the annual milk production in J&K is 25.94 lakh metric Tonne and the average annual milk production per cow stands at 2380 litres.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the thriving dairy industry in Baramulla and said that this is a testament to the immense potential present in every corner of the nation. The combined resolve of the people in any locality, any objective can be accomplished, emphasising the power of unity and determination. The transformative outcomes that can be achieved through communities with a shared vision and commitment. The collective initiative and determination of the people in any region can help achieve any goal.
The state government's commitment to enhancing milk production is very appreciated. A summer meet was organised on World Milk Day in Srinagar on 1st June, 2023 and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha emphasised the significance of celebrating World Milk Day in Jammu and Kashmir as a means to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of dairy farmers, entrepreneurs, and all stakeholders involved in the development of the dairy industry. The state government has taken a major step towards boosting the agriculture and allied sectors with the launch of the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP). The aim of the program is to address the various challenges faced by the agriculture and allied sectors including the dairy industry in Jammu & Kashmir. Through this program, twenty-nine innovative projects are initiated in the state over the time. To ensure increased productivity and milk yield, the project aims to directly benefit 1,533 literate rural youth. Additionally, approximately seven lakh dairy farmers will indirectly benefit from these initiatives. The government is implementing special measures to achieve self-sufficiency in milk production.
The Department of Animal Husbandry in Jammu has implemented their flagship program Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS), wherein eligible individuals can avail a 50% subsidy on essential machinery and equipment required to establish a dairy unit. This scheme aims to boost milk production and improve the economic conditions of farmers in Jammu and Kashmir. Baramulla produces 19.50 Cr litres of milk annually. It was revealed that 368 cases were sponsored under IDDS in the current financial year in which 270 units have been sanctioned thereby generating employment avenues for 286 youth of the Baramulla district. In the last 2-3 years, more than 500 such units have been set up in Baramulla under this scheme. The government has approved a total of 4,286 dairy units across the Union Territory as part of its efforts. Moving forward, there will be a focused approach to bring milk production and marketing within the organised sector. In Kashmir, around 95% of milk distribution occurs informally between farmers and consumers on an individual basis, while only 5% of the total consumption is supplied by approximately ten existing milk processing factories. This has resulted in concerns regarding milk quality and hygiene standards. Jammu and Kashmir currently has a cow population of 3.2 million, accounting for approximately 1.04% of India's total cow population. The milk economy in J&K holds significant importance in the agricultural sector, contributing around Rs 9,080 crore to the region's economy.
The White Revolution, also known as Operation Flood, was a nationwide campaign initiated by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in India in the 1970s. Its objective was to transform India into a self-sufficient nation in milk production and improve the socio-economic conditions of dairy farmers. The greatest example of this is the state of Gujarat. It emerged as the face for the first White Revolution by establishing various cooperative societies, Amul becoming the most commercial and popular among them.
White Revolution 2.0 in Jammu and Kashmir has had a transformative impact on the dairy sector, contributing to economic development, improved milk availability, and the empowerment of dairy farmers. The promotion of the dairy industry has led to a growing trend of dairy farms, attracting educated youth to venture into this sector. In districts such as Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Doda in Jammu, a significant number of young individuals are establishing dairy farms. The government is providing financial assistance to support these initiatives.

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