National Dairy Development Board, Objectives, Functions, Subsidiaries

India is the world’s largest producer of milk, and the dairy sector plays a vital role in rural livelihoods, nutritional security, women empowerment, and agricultural diversification. In this transformation, the role of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has been highly significant. Established to replicate the success of the Anand cooperative model across India, NDDB became the driving force behind the White Revolution and the modernization of India’s dairy economy.

About National Dairy Development Board

• The National Dairy Development Board is a statutory organization established by the Government of India in 1965 under the leadership of Verghese Kurien.
• It was created to promote, finance, and support producer-owned dairy cooperative institutions throughout the country.
• Headquarters: Anand, Gujarat
• Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• Legal Status: Became a statutory body under the NDDB Act, 1987. It was also declared an Institution of National Importance under the NDDB Act, 1987.

National Dairy Development Board Objectives 

The major objectives of National Dairy Development Board are:

• To organize dairy farmers into cooperative societies.
• To increase milk production and productivity.
• To ensure remunerative prices to dairy farmers.
• To provide quality milk to consumers at reasonable prices.
• To promote rural employment and women participation.
• To strengthen the dairy value chain including procurement, processing, and marketing.

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Functions of National Dairy Development Board 

The National Dairy Development Board performs several core functions for the development of the dairy sector and dairy cooperatives in India.

• Cooperative Development: Strengthens dairy cooperatives by organizing milk producers into farmer-owned institutions based on the “Anand Pattern”, ensuring collective ownership, fair price realization, and elimination of intermediaries in the dairy value chain.
• Scheme Implementation: Implements key national programmes such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) to enhance milk production, breed improvement, and dairy infrastructure.
• Technical and Financial Support: Provides financial assistance, technical expertise, and managerial guidance to state milk federations and dairy unions to improve efficiency in milk procurement, processing, and marketing systems.
• Animal Breeding and Genetic Improvement: Promotes scientific livestock development through artificial insemination, semen production systems, and breed improvement of indigenous cattle, along with livestock identification systems like Pashu Aadhaar.
• Digitalisation of Dairy Sector: Introduces technology-driven systems such as Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS), Internet-based Dairy Information System (i-DIS), and GIS-based logistics optimisation to improve transparency and efficiency.
• Trade Regulation and Facilitation: Acts as a channelising agency for import and export of milk and milk products to protect domestic dairy farmers from global price fluctuations and unfair competition.
• Data Collection and Policy Support: Maintains national dairy databases on milk production, livestock population, and procurement systems to support evidence-based policymaking and sector planning.
• Institutional Revival: Provides support to weak or loss-making milk unions and dairy federations to restore financial viability and operational efficiency.
• Promotion of Allied Activities: Encourages diversification into organic farming, beekeeping, and other cooperative-based rural enterprises to enhance livelihood opportunities.

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Subsidiaries

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) operates through several specialized arms to cover the entire dairy value chain. Its subsidiaries include Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Private Limited (Delhi), Indian Immunologicals Ltd. (Hyderabad – IIL), IDMC Ltd. (Anand), NDDB Dairy Services (NDS), NDDB Mrida Ltd., and NDDB CALF Ltd. These subsidiaries are focused on supporting the dairy sector through: 

• Mother Dairy: Processing and marketing dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.
• Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL): Manufacturing animal health products and veterinary vaccines (e.g., FMD, rabies).
• IDMC Limited: Designing and supplying dairy machinery, automation systems, and turnkey projects.
• NDDB Dairy Services (NDS): A not-for-profit company facilitating the establishment of Producer Companies and managing semen stations.
• NDDB Mrida Ltd.: Focused on manure management and biogas.
• NDDB CALF Ltd: Center for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food.

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Major Initiatives 

The National Dairy Development Board has launched and implemented several important programmes to increase milk production, strengthen dairy cooperatives, modernize dairy infrastructure, improve cattle productivity, and enhance the income of rural dairy farmers. 

• Operation Flood (White Revolution): National Dairy Development Board launched and implemented Operation Flood in 1970 to transform India from a milk-deficient country into a self-sufficient milk-producing nation. NDDB organized dairy farmers into cooperatives, established the nationwide milk grid, strengthened milk procurement and marketing systems, expanded dairy infrastructure, and provided technical and managerial support to dairy unions.
• National Milk Grid: NDDB established the National Milk Grid during Operation Flood to connect milk-surplus regions with milk-deficit urban centres. NDDB developed milk transportation and distribution networks, strengthened cold-chain infrastructure, reduced regional price fluctuations, and ensured regular milk supply across the country.
• National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): The National Programme for Dairy Development was launched in 2014 to strengthen dairy infrastructure and dairy cooperative systems. NDDB assists in implementation of the programme by providing technical expertise and infrastructure support for milk chilling centres, milk processing plants, quality testing laboratories, cold-chain systems, and modernization of milk procurement networks.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched in 2014 to conserve indigenous cattle breeds and improve milk productivity. NDDB supports the mission through scientific breeding programmes, artificial insemination services, breed improvement initiatives, and livestock management systems for indigenous breeds such as Gir and Sahiwal.
• National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM): Under the National Digital Livestock Mission launched in 2020, NDDB developed the “Bharat Pashudhan” database to create a unified digital livestock management system. NDDB introduced unique 12-digit identification numbers for livestock traceability, breeding records, health monitoring, and vaccination tracking.
• Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme (IVF and Embryo Transfer): NDDB introduced Accelerated Breed Improvement Programmes using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Transfer (ET) technologies to rapidly propagate elite indigenous cattle breeds such as Gir and Sahiwal. NDDB also developed indigenous IVF media to reduce breeding costs and improve access to advanced breeding technologies.
• Breed Multiplication Farms (BMF): Breed Multiplication Farms were launched to increase the availability of high-genetic merit cattle and heifers. NDDB acts as the implementing agency by providing technical support, financial assistance, and entrepreneurship-based dairy farming models to strengthen breeding infrastructure.
• Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP): The Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme was launched in 2019 to expand artificial insemination coverage across rural India. NDDB supports doorstep artificial insemination services using high-genetic merit and sex-sorted semen to improve cattle breeds and increase milk productivity.
• Progeny Testing (PT) and Pedigree Selection (PS) Projects: NDDB has been implementing Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection projects since the 1980s to scientifically identify elite bulls and improve indigenous cattle breeds. NDDB supports selective breeding programmes and production of high-genetic merit semen to enhance milk yield in future generations.
• Establishment of MAITRIs: The programme for establishing Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs) was launched in 2020. NDDB supports training and deployment of MAITRIs to provide artificial insemination, breeding support, and animal healthcare services in villages.
• NDDB MRIDA Ltd and Manure Management Initiative: NDDB Mrida Limited was established in 2016 to promote scientific manure and cattle waste management. NDDB supports biogas production, bio-slurry utilization, organic manure promotion, and sustainable dairy farming practices under initiatives such as Gobardhan.
• Digital Dairy and Milk Collection Systems: NDDB introduced digital dairy technologies such as Automatic Milk Collection Systems (AMCS) and Internet-based Dairy Information Systems (i-DIS) to modernize milk procurement and supply-chain management. These systems improved transparency, digital payments, milk quality testing, and operational efficiency in dairy cooperatives.
• Animal Health and Vaccination Initiatives: Through subsidiaries such as Indian Immunologicals Limited, NDDB supports veterinary vaccine production and animal healthcare programmes for diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease and rabies, helping improve livestock health and dairy productivity.

Contribution of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to India’s Dairy Economy

• Transformation of India into the Largest Milk Producer: One of the greatest achievements of NDDB has been transforming India from a milk-deficient country in the 1960s into the world’s largest producer of milk.
• Rural Livelihood Generation: The dairy sector provides regular income to millions of rural households, especially small and marginal farmers. Dairy cooperatives ensure daily cash flow and reduce dependence on seasonal agriculture.
• Women Empowerment: Dairying has become one of the largest sources of women’s economic participation in rural India. Women-led dairy cooperatives have strengthened financial inclusion and social empowerment.
• Nutritional Security: By increasing milk availability and affordability, NDDB has contributed significantly to improving nutritional intake, especially among children and vulnerable sections.
• Agricultural Diversification: Dairying reduces excessive dependence on crop agriculture and provides an alternative source of income during crop failures and climatic uncertainties.
• Employment Generation: The dairy sector generates employment in milk production, transportation, veterinary services, processing, packaging, and marketing.
• Promotion of Cooperative Movement: NDDB strengthened the cooperative movement by creating democratic, farmer-owned institutions that improved bargaining power and rural participation.
• Development of Dairy Infrastructure: NDDB established modern dairy plants, chilling centres, cold chains, feed plants, and milk testing laboratories that modernized the dairy value chain.
• Promotion of Value Addition: The dairy sector increasingly produces value-added products such as cheese, butter, curd, paneer, yoghurt, ice cream, and milk powder, enhancing profitability and export potential.