New Delhi. We often talk about cow and buffalo milk, but in Kutch, Gujarat, 'camel milk' has changed the fate of the farmers. The country's first camel milk processing plant has created new records in terms of procurement. The first Indian plant to process camel milk purchased 4,754 liters of milk daily in the last financial year. This plant has been established by Kutch District Cooperative Milk Producers Union which is known as 'Sarhad Dairy'. Camel milk is rich in essential minerals, it improves overall health and also strengthens the immunity.
Gujarat government officials said on Tuesday that this Bhuj-based dairy paid a total of Rs 8.72 crore to more than 350 camel rearing families during the financial year 2024-25.
"Daily procurement of camel milk reached 4,754 liters in FY 2024-25 and a total payment of Rs 8,72,83,440 was made to more than 350 families," a government release said. Sarhad Dairy works closely with more than 900 cooperative societies and procures about 5.5 lakh liters of milk (cow and camel milk) from about 80,000 producers every day. Incorporated) buys.
It processes up to four lakh liters of milk every day, runs a 300-tonne animal feed plant and makes 50,000 liters of ice cream every day. According to the release, this dairy helps the animal husbandry farmers by giving them around Rs 3 crore every day. The dairy achieved a turnover of over Rs 1,200 crore in the last financial year, which is 9.09 per cent higher than a year earlier.
The journey of Sarhad Dairy (Kutch District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited) started in 2009, but it took an important step in January 2013 when a milk processing plant with an initial capacity of 20,000 liters per day was started at Lakhond, Bhuj-Bachhau Highway with the help of the government under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Sarhad Dairy has the country's first processing plant to remove odor present in camel milk, which is operational since January 2019. This dairy was established in the year 2009 when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The release said the dairy has also received primary organic certification for camel milk. Following the Amul model, camel milk is collected through four centers in Kutch district.
A cheese plant was established in 2020, with a daily capacity of 2 tonnes. These developments have given Sarhad Dairy a strong base in milk collection and value addition in rural areas of Kutch. Starting with just 15 societies, 1 chilling center and 30,000 liters of milk per month (worth approximately Rs 10 lakh), Sarhad Dairy has now expanded to 650 societies, 19 chilling centers and 5 lakh liters of milk per month (worth Rs 60 crore).
It processes milk and milk products under the Amul brand, providing regular income to thousands of cattle farmers. In 2025, Sarhad Dairy started milk collection in Ajaygarh and Hatta villages in Madhya Pradesh, a testament to its geographical expansion and extending the cooperative model to new areas. It is an inspiring success story taking the white revolution beyond the white desert of Kutch.
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