Patna: The Bihar government has moved to place the dairy sector at the heart of its rural development strategy under the Saat Nischay-3 programme, announcing plans to organise milk producers in every village and expand Sudha milk sales centres to all panchayats.
Under the resolve titled Progress in Agriculture – Prosperity in the State, the government has decided to establish milk production committees in all of Bihar’s 39,073 villages. These committees are intended to ensure fair prices for livestock farmers by enabling direct procurement of milk and eliminating the role of intermediaries.
According to the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Resources Department, committees have already been formed in 25,593 villages. Officials have been directed to complete the process in the remaining villages within the next two years, a move expected to formalise dairy activity and stabilise incomes for small and marginal farmers.
The expansion builds on earlier efforts under Seven Resolves-2, which saw Sudha milk sales centres opened in all blocks. The new phase aims to take this further by establishing Sudha outlets in every panchayat, improving local access to milk and dairy products.
At present, Sudha centres operate in 100 of the state’s 8,053 panchayats. The government has set a target of opening outlets in the remaining 7,953 panchayats by the end of the 2026–27 financial year. Priority in allotment will be given to Jeevika Didis—members of women’s self-help groups linked to the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme—placing women at the centre of the initiative.
Officials say the planned expansion of the dairy network is expected to generate employment at the village level, from milk production and collection to sales and processing. By creating steady local livelihoods for youth and women, the government hopes to curb migration to cities.
Beyond employment, the programme is expected to increase the availability of dairy products across rural Bihar and stimulate activity in local markets. Higher and more predictable incomes for livestock farmers are likely to strengthen purchasing power, with knock-on effects for the wider rural economy.
The government says the objective goes beyond boosting milk output. By linking dairy farming with income generation, women’s empowerment and local enterprise, it aims to promote village-level self-reliance and lay the groundwork for a more resilient rural economy.
