Hope springs anew for marginal dairy farmers with ‘Asha’
Dairy farmer Sarita Kunwar has a higher income and healthier cattle after joining the Asha Mahila Milk Producer Company, supported by the Tata Dairy Mission
Sarita Kunwar, a dairy farmer from Rajyawas village in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district, was at the end of her tether. Rising costs and meagre earnings from dairy farming led her to think about selling her cattle. Her family’s livelihood prospects were bleak.
A ray of hope emerged after the Asha Mahila Milk Producer Company (MPC) opened a milk collection centre in Rajsamand in April 2024. Asha MPC was founded in Rajasthan by Tata Trusts under its dairy programme, in collaboration with Dairy Health and Nutrition Initiative India Foundation (DHANII), and with technical support of NDDB Dairy Services.
Tata Dairy Mission seeks to improve the livelihood of milk producers by linking them to MPCs, which offer access to technology, infrastructure, and assured market linkages, along with better pricing. MPCs also help milk producers build capacity and improve cattle breeding, health, and nutrition in a sustainable manner.
Curious about the workings of the Asha MPC, Sarita began attending its training sessions and community meetings. These highlighted the many benefits of becoming a member of the MPC, such as fair prices, veterinary support and training on cattle management.
Impressed by the transparency, training opportunities and promises of support, Sarita signed up. This signaled a new beginning for her family.
Changing fortunes
As an Asha member, Sarita benefitted in numerous ways. Since the MPC ensures timely payments every 10 days, she was assured of a stable and predictable income. Further, better pricing motivated her to improve milk quality for superior margins.
With a regular income and better dairy management practices, Sarita was soon able to buy a second cow. Her cattle now produce 20-22 litres of milk a day, which has boosted her income significantly. They are healthier, too, thanks to the veterinary support provided by Asha. Sarita has learnt to optimise cattle feed and improve hygiene and care practices after training under Asha, leading to better quality.
Brighter prospects
Crucially, higher income from dairy farming has enabled Sarita to improve her family’s wellbeing. She can comfortably meet her household expenses today and also invest in her cattle’s upkeep. Not surprisingly, her success is inspiring others in her community to join the MPC.
By providing remunerative pricing, training, and veterinary support through MPCs like Asha, the Tata Dairy Mission is empowering thousands of women dairy farmers like Sarita around the country.
