A 65-Year-Old Gujarat Woman’s Dairy Success Story: From 10 Cows to Rs 1.94 Crore in Milk Sales
In the heart of Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, 65-year-old Maniben Jesung Chaudhary is proving that age is no barrier to self-reliance. Living in Kasara village, Kankrej taluka, this inspiring woman has turned her small dairy farm into a booming business. Last year, she sold milk worth a whopping Rs 1.94 crore, earning her the second spot in the district’s "Best Banas Lakshmi" category. Now, she’s eyeing Rs 3 crore in sales by the end of this year – a true tale of atmanirbharta, or self-reliance, that’s motivating women across Gujarat.
Maniben supplies a massive 1,100 litres of milk every day to the local Patelvas (Kasara) Milk Producers’ Cooperative Society. In the 2024-25 period alone, she delivered 3,47,180 litres, raking in Rs 1,94,05,047. Her hard work didn’t go unnoticed – she received a special certificate of recognition for her efforts. But Maniben isn’t stopping here. With her family’s support, she’s all set to scale up even more.
Her youngest son, Vipul, shared the exciting details with the media. "Back in 2011, we started with just 10 to 12 cows and buffaloes," he said. "Thanks to guidance from Banas Dairy, we’ve grown our herd to over 230 animals today – including 140 adult buffaloes, 90 cows, and about 70 calves." They rear popular breeds like Banni, Mehsani, and Murrah buffaloes, along with Holstein Friesian cows and four indigenous Kankrej cows. To keep things running smoothly, the family has built dedicated sheds for the cattle and uses modern milking machines.
Vipul added that they’re planning to buy 100 more buffaloes this year to boost production. "All three of us brothers are graduates, and we’re fully hands-on in this work," he explained. "As incomes from animal husbandry keep rising, more young people will get inspired to join the dairy farming sector." Right now, around 16 families in the village team up with Maniben for these animal husbandry activities, showing how community efforts are fueling growth.
Maniben’s story isn’t just personal – it’s a shining example for Gujarat’s women in the dairy industry. Women lead the charge in the state’s animal husbandry scene, especially through milk producers’ cooperative societies and self-help groups. Out of Gujarat’s 16,000-plus cooperatives, about 4,150 are run by women. And from the over 36 lakh members statewide, more than 11 lakh are women making a real difference.
Take Banas Dairy, for instance – it collects nearly 90 lakh litres of milk daily, and women suppliers play a huge role. Many of these women have achieved financial independence by selling over Rs 50 lakh worth of milk each year. Maniben’s journey highlights how dairy farming in Gujarat is empowering women, turning rural dreams into economic realities. If her plans pan out, she’ll soon be leading the pack in Banaskantha, inspiring even more families to follow suit.
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