Overview
Banas Dairy is a co-operative dairy headquartered in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat, India. It is the milk union of the Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Limited and forms one of the constituent member unions of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets dairy products under the Amul brand. Banas Dairy is widely regarded as one of the largest district-level milk co-operatives operating within the Amul federation.
Key facts
| Name | Banas Dairy |
|---|---|
| Full name | Banaskantha District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Limited |
| Type | Co-operative dairy union |
| Headquarters | Banaskantha district, Gujarat, India |
| Parent federation | Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) |
| Brand | Amul |
| Country | India |
Background
Banas Dairy operates within the structure of the Anand Pattern of dairy co-operatives, a three-tier system pioneered in Gujarat that links village-level milk co-operative societies, district-level unions, and a state-level marketing federation. Under this model, milk is procured from member farmers through village societies, processed at the district union's facilities, and marketed across India and abroad through GCMMF.
The dairy is based in Banaskantha, a largely semi-arid district in northern Gujarat bordering Rajasthan. Dairying has emerged as an important rural livelihood in the district, supplementing income from agriculture and animal husbandry, particularly for smallholder farmers and women members of village co-operatives.
Operations
Banas Dairy procures milk from village-level dairy co-operative societies spread across Banaskantha and adjoining areas. Its product range, distributed through the Amul brand, includes liquid milk, butter, ghee, milk powder, cheese, and other value-added dairy products. The union also engages in cattle feed production, animal health services, and breed improvement programmes for member farmers, in line with the practices of other major Amul unions.
Significance
As one of the constituent unions of the Amul federation, Banas Dairy contributes to Gujarat's position as a leading milk-producing state in India. The co-operative has played a role in expanding dairy-based rural employment in Banaskantha, an area historically constrained by limited irrigation and recurrent drought. Its scale of procurement has made it a frequently cited example of co-operative dairy development in India.
Related topics
- Amul
- Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation
- Banaskantha district
- Operation Flood
- Verghese Kurien
- Dairy farming in India
- Co-operative movement in India
References
- Wikidata: Q13156107