Dairy Cooperatives Expand Fresh Milk Supply to India’s Defence Forces
14 August 2026, New Delhi: The National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Ltd. (NCDFI) and the Indian Army have reiterated their commitment to strengthening the dairy cooperative network to support local milk procurement, processing and cold-chain infrastructure for Defence establishments.
Speaking at the Cooperative Conclave on Dairy-Defence Partnership in Anand, Gujarat, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NCDFI, and Head, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), said the four-decade-old partnership has created benefits across the dairy supply chain by providing Defence establishments with dependable supplies, giving cooperatives assured institutional markets and enabling dairy farmers to access wider markets and regular income opportunities.
The partnership has also supported the development of milk procurement, processing, storage and supply-chain infrastructure in border and North-Eastern regions. Dr Shah noted that expansion of local dairy cooperatives in these areas can strengthen supply networks while creating additional market opportunities for dairy farmers.
Lt General Mukesh Chadha, Director General of Supplies and Transport (DGST), Indian Army, appreciated NCDFI and its member cooperatives for ensuring reliable milk and dairy product supplies to troops serving in difficult terrains. He also commended NDDB’s efforts to organise and strengthen dairy cooperatives in border areas and support local milk production.
Lt General Chadha said a stronger dairy cooperative network in border regions could create sustainable markets, employment and livelihood opportunities while contributing to reverse migration. He also called for closer coordination between the Army and NCDFI to assess fresh-milk requirements and develop local procurement, processing and distribution capacities.
The Conclave discussed opportunities to expand fresh-milk supplies in areas where local procurement, processing, cold-chain and logistics infrastructure can support regular deliveries. Greater availability of fresh milk could reduce dependence on UHT (ultra-high-temperature) milk in suitable locations, while long-life products would continue to be required where operational conditions make them necessary.
The Conclave also discussed the continued requirement for adequate long-life milk capacity, including UHT milk, which accounted for 4.11 crore litres of supplies in 2025-26.
Representatives discussed operational experiences and emerging requirements relating to supplies to the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Assam Rifles. Maj Gen S Sooraj, Additional Director General Supplies and Transport, senior Army officials and managing directors of dairy cooperatives from border and North-Eastern states also participated in the Conclave.
The discussions identified several areas for strengthening the cooperative supply system, including improved demand visibility, mapping of product-wise capacities, alternate supply arrangements, quality and cold-chain systems, digital coordination, diversification of dairy products and more sustainable logistics.
NCDFI’s association with the Ministry of Defence began in 1984 and has since developed into an institutional partnership involving 117 dairy cooperatives. The contract value of supplies reached Rs 1,627 crore in 2025-26.
Fresh milk supplies to Defence establishments increased to 18.48 crore litres in 2025-26, while combined fresh and UHT milk supplies reached 22.60 crore litres. During the same period, 10 dairy cooperatives from border and North-Eastern regions supplied 6.44 crore litres of fresh milk to 196 Army units.
The Conclave concluded with a renewed focus on strengthening local dairy ecosystems in strategically important regions while ensuring reliable supplies to Defence establishments and expanding market opportunities for dairy farmers.
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