Cargill Opens ₹300 Crore Dairy Feed Plant in Punjab, Strengthening India’s Livestock Sector

• Over 1,000 jobs (direct and indirect) created, supporting local livelihoods and economic growth
• With a production capacity of 400,000 tons per year, this will be Cargill’s largest dairy feed plant in South Asia, supporting India’s objective of becoming self-reliant in dairy feed

Underscoring its long-term confidence in India’s livestock sector and to help accelerate growth in Punjab’s dairy industry, Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health today opened a state-of-the-art dairy feed plant in Wazirabad, Punjab (India). Built with an investment of ₹300 crore, the new plant will provide dairy farmers access to world-class feed solutions and deliver science-based dairy nutrition at scale. This expansion marks an important step from Cargill towards making India self-reliant in dairy feed, contributing to the Indian Government’s initiative of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India).

Spread over 15 acres, with an annual production capacity of 400,000 metric tons, the new facility will be Cargill’s largest dairy feed plant in South Asia and second plant in the state of Punjab (after Bhatinda). It will add over 1000 (direct and indirect) jobs, creating livelihood opportunities for the local community and help the company meet rising demand from core dairy markets of Punjab. Products manufactured here will be marketed under the globally renowned brands Provimi and Purina and cater to multiple customer segments including dairy farmers, producers and feed mills.

Strategically located within a high-density dairy region, Cargill’s Wazirabad facility will bring production closer to farming communities in Punjab, one of north India’s most productive dairy belts. It will also give dairy producers access to the latest technology used in the production of a wide range of dairy feed for young animals and milking cows, using a high degree of automation. By enabling consistent availability of safe and quality feed, this plant will support dairy producers improve milk yields, animal health, farmer incomes, and strengthen the entire dairy value chain.

The facility was inaugurated today by Sanjeev Arora, Minister of Industries & Commerce, Punjab, alongside Cargill leadership: “Punjab continues to be a leader in India’s agricultural and dairy landscape, supported by its progressive farmers and strong infrastructure. Investments from global companies like Cargill will further strengthen the state’s industrial ecosystem and create employment opportunities for local communities, supporting rural livelihoods. This clearly reflects growing industry confidence in Punjab as a preferred destination for agri and food sector investments and aligns with our vision of transforming the state into a progressive, prosperous and self-reliant entity,” said Sanjeev Arora, Minister of Industries & Commerce, Punjab speaking at the plant inauguration. He said that the Punjab government will support them with all possible help and make Punjab choicest destination for investors.

“By expanding our manufacturing presence closer to the key dairy regions of Punjab, farmers in the state will have consistent access to high quality and low toxin feed complying with BIS guidelines. This will enhance supply reliability and farm profitability for dairy farmers, besides contributing to local employment, thereby strengthening the state ecosystem,” said Ravinder Balain, President, Cargill India & Senior Managing Director Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, India, speaking at the plant launch.

India is the world’s largest milk producer for several years and accounts for over a quarter of the global output. Currently, dairy is the largest agricultural product in India, contributing 5% to the national economy and directly employing more than eight crore farmers (National Accounts Statistics). This, coupled with steady growth in dairy consumption, makes availability of high-quality dairy feed critical for the growth of the sector.

Cargill’s latest expansion builds on decades of work with Indian farmers through trusted brands such as Provimi and Purina. Together with the Bathinda plant, the new facility also builds on the ‘Make in India’ agenda by expanding local manufacturing, supporting skill development and economic activity in surrounding communities. Safety, quality, and responsible operations remain foundational to the facility. Designed in alignment with Cargill’s global standards for workplace safety, biosecurity, and product excellence, the plant reflects the company’s commitment to operational integrity and sustainable food systems.

Tata Power’s Microgrid Arm and National Dairy Development Board Partner to Advance Initiatives in Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Communities

TP Renewable Microgrid (TPRMG), a subsidiary of Tata Power, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). This collaboration aims to jointly advance initiatives in renewable energy technologies for rural communities and within the dairy value chain.

Central to this collaboration are several key initiatives designed to enhance sustainability and operational efficiency within the milk value chain. This includes the solarization of Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs), Bulk Milk Coolers (BMCs), and Milk Chilling Centers, facilitated by cutting-edge solar microgrid technology.

Chairman, NDDB highlighted that this MoU is a significant milestone as two great institutions, NDDB and Tata Power, are coming together to pursue a sustainable & efficient dairy value chain. The aim is to integrate renewable energy solutions, boost operational efficiency and promote use of green fuels.

A key highlight of this partnership is the ambitious plan to transform Mujkuva village in Anand district, Gujarat, into a Carbon Neutral Village through the collaborative efforts of NDDB and TP Renewable Microgrid. This endeavor targets to promote sustainability in rural economies and foster a greener future for the dairy industry.

Additionally, the partnership prioritizes the integration of dung-based biogas power generators into these microgrids, advancing sustainable energy practices within the dairy sector. Energy-efficient chullahs (stoves), solar dryers, and cold storage solutions will also be applied to enhance operational efficiencies in dairy and agricultural sectors. Furthermore, comprehensive energy audits will be conducted on existing electric and thermal systems to identify opportunities for improvement and implement efficient, sustainable solutions.

This strategic partnership between TPRMG and NDDB is poised to establish a benchmark in the dairy industry by integrating green energy solutions and promoting sustainability across the entire milk value chain. The collaboration invigorates the adoption of advanced technologies, driving significant environmental benefits, reducing energy costs, and encouraging sustainable practices, thus ccontributing to India's renewable energy adoption and rural development. 

D2C Dairy Brand Sid’s Farm Raises $1 Mn in Bridge Round from its Loyal Customers

Loyal customers and their close aides from diverse background turned to be first-time angel investors while investing in this bootstrapped, D2C dairy brand based out of Hyderabad.

Direct-to-consumer dairy brand, Sid’s Farm has raised 1 Million USD in bridge round from its customers and their referrals. Being a bootstrapped enterprise driven by organic growth so far, this first fundraise from its high net-worth customers and their referrals is testimony to its brand credibility, superior quality and unparalleled customer experience. The company shall use this fund for new product development, infrastructure upgrades, deeper retail penetration and digital transformation in order to gear up for future trajectory.

Founded in 2016 by Dr. Kishore Indukuri, Sid’s Farm has now become synonymous with pure milk and clean production. As a brand promise, Sid’s Farm is trying to revolutionize testing of milk ensuring no traces of antibiotics, hormones, or preservatives in the milk and dairy products. With a model farm, state of the art laboratory, and modern production facility at Chevella near Hyderabad, Sid’s Farm ensures that more than 15,000 customers wake up to health every day.

“We have been bootstrapped all these days and I cannot be thankful enough for our customers who have come forth and placed their trust in our vision by investing in our brand”, said Dr.Kishore Indukuri, Founder & MD at Sid’s Farm.

“With pure grit and determination, Kishore has built a dairy brand that stands out from the rest in terms of product quality and on-time delivery. In an industry that’s largely fragmented and has traditionally been slow in adoption of technology, Sid’s Farm’s approach is simple and the agile. It's a pleasure to be associated with Kishore and Sid’s Farm in their endeavour to provide pure dairy products” said Mr. Sunil Kumar Potturi, a lead investor in this round.

Another lead investor Mr. Lohit Reddy had this to add, “Consumer demand for healthy products is on a rise. Today, people are willing to pay a premium for a healthy version of traditional products. Dairy is playing a key role in health & wellness of working class and this premium market for dairy is likely to grow multi-fold. Under Kishore's leadership, Sid's Farm is the leading contender to becoming India's healthiest B2C dairy brand with its exemplary commitment to purity and transparency with its customers.”

Other investors include Shilpa Chowdari, Praveena Edupganti, Feroz Mohammed, Goutham Kumar Reddy, Kapil Godani, Kiara A Duhlani, Haregour Nayak, Raviteja Chunduru, Dr. Abhinav Gorukanti, N Ramanjaneya Reddy, Sudheer Chukkapalli, VVR Abhijit, Hapgrow Private Limited, Lekhya Entertainment Private Limited, S. Lakshmi Phani, Tao Capital Private Limited, and Vinit Rai. “Sid’s Farm would like to thank each of them who placed immense trust in its vision” added Dr. Kishore Indukuri. Incidentally, Sid’s Farm has also recently forayed into the Bengaluru market as a part of its expansion plan.

Revenue of India's organized dairy industry is expected to rebound a solid 12 percent year-on-year this fiscal to ₹ 1.6 lakh crore. As per a report from Statista, online sale of milk has grown to 2.1% of organized milk sale in India from 0.5% in 2017. The adoption of online milk and groceries has accelerated since the beginning of the pandemic and the landscape currently is extremely promising for pure-play dairy brands like Sid’s Farm.

About Sid’s Farm: Sid’s Farm is a premium dairy brand based in Telangana. Established in 2016, the brand has been revolutionizing the concept of pure, healthy, adulterant-free milk and milk products. Their range of products includes skim milk, whole buffalo's milk, whole cow's milk, double toned buffalo milk, whole desi cow milk, cow’s ghee, cow's butter, buffalo’s butter, buffalo’s ghee, cow’s curd, buffalo’s curd, paneer, and doodh peda. A vision of Dr. Kishore Indukuri, an IIT Kharagpur and the University of Massachusetts alumni, Sid’s Farm has developed itself to achieve consistent YoY growth for the past few years. Currently, the company serves over 15,000 customers daily on a subscription basis.

Govt Launches Accelerator for Dairy Startups and Rs.15,000 Crore Animal Husbandry Fund

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) offers financial support to entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME and Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs)

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, with a view to provide dedicated focus towards promoting & facilitating investments in the Indian Dairy sector, has setup Dairy Investment Accelerator under its Investment Facilitation Cell. This Investment Accelerator is a cross functional team constituted to serve as the interface with investors. It shall provide support across the investment cycle:

• Offering specific inputs for evaluation of investment opportunities
• Addressing queries about application to govt. schemes
• Connecting with strategic partners
• Providing on-ground assistance with state departments & relevant authorities

Further, the Dairy Investment Accelerator will work with DAHD to organize a series of events with global & local industry participants and one-on-one discussions with the investors to understand their perspectives, facilitate direct interactions with government officials and connects with other players in the industry.

Dairy Investment Accelerator is also generating awareness among investors about Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund (AHIDF). AHIDF is one of the flagship schemes by DAHD, Government of India whereby Rs. 15,000 crore fund has been setup for offering financial support to entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), and Section 8 companies. 

Eligible entities can avail the benefits of the scheme to set up new units or expand existing units in areas of dairy processing & related value addition infrastructure, meat processing & related value addition infrastructure and Animal Feed Plant. The benefits available are:

• 3% interest subvention on loans
• 2-year moratorium with 6-year repayment period
• INR 750 Cr credit guarantee

The DAHD encourages all the private companies, individual entrepreneurs, and start-ups, who are interested in investing in Dairy sector, to reach out to the Dairy Investment Accelerator on dairy-accelerator@lsmgr.nic.in.

India is the largest milk producer contributing 23% of global milk production. Annual milk production in the country has grown by 6.4% (CAGR) in the past 5 years. Dairy is a high priority sector for Government of India due to its socio-economic significance. It is the single largest agricultural commodity contributing 5% of the national economy and employing 80 Mn+ farmers directly. Further, the country boasts a large domestic packaged dairy products of market worth Rs. 2.7-3.0 lakh crore witnessing a strong double-digit growth.

The market growth in Dairy requires support of significant infrastructure investment across processing, chilling, logistics, cattle feed etc. Further, lucrative untapped opportunities exist in areas such as value-added dairy products, organic/ farm fresh milk and exports. The Dairy sector has seen substantial foreign direct investment (FDI) constituting about 40% of FDIs Indian food sector. To facilitate the infrastructure growth, Central/ State Governments have released various incentives to attract investments in this sector.