Evolution of Dairy Cooperatives in Karnataka: A Special Focus on Women’s Dairy Cooperatives

The present research is mainly based on secondary data and aimed to study dairy cooperatives’ evolution and especially those involving women in Karnataka. The indicators used in study are growth rate and percentages. In India and Karnataka, the analysis indicated that growth in milk production has increased significantly in the past 3 decades and overall, except during 2000-01 to 2009-10 period for Karnataka. As of July, 2020 there were 14 Milk Unions covering all the districts of the state with 14682 Dairy Cooperatives functioning and 25.30 lakh milk producers. Bengaluru and Kolar milk unions are larger unions in the state contributing around 25 per cent to total dairy cooperatives and milk producers in Karnataka, while contributing around 34 per cent to average milk procurement. The wide spread establishment of WDCs was possible in Karnataka through STEP scheme which was implemented by KMF with the support of Government of Karnataka. The total number of WDCs registered in Karnataka is of 4494 and currently functioning ones among them is 4046. Around 60 per cent of WDCs are set up through STEP in Karnataka over the years.