National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is a central organization within the Indian dairy sector, with its headquarters located in Anand, Gujarat. Established to revolutionize the dairy industry in India, NDDB has significantly contributed to making India the world’s largest milk producer.

Significant Events

One of the most notable achievements of NDDB was the successful implementation of 'Operation Flood', launched in 1970. This project was instrumental in connecting rural milk producers with urban consumers through a national milk grid. In recent years, NDDB has focused on sustainability, implementing strategies to reduce carbon footprints and improve resource efficiency. A significant event was the hosting of the First Indian Cheese Festival in 2025 at its Anand headquarters, which reinforced NDDB's leadership in the dairy industry.

Company Plans

Looking forward, NDDB is committed to increasing milk production sustainably while enhancing the livelihoods of dairy farmers. The organization plans to leverage artificial intelligence to improve livestock quality, boost feed and fodder production, and expand cooperative societies. They are particularly focused on research and development in innovative dairy farming practices and expanding value-added dairy operations.

Significant projects include the expansion of cow dung biogas generation models across 250 district dairy cooperatives and the establishment of 10 automated milk processing plants across 18 districts. NDDB also plans to enhance milk collection capacity and set up 100 testing laboratories in collaboration with the Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation.

Additionally, NDDB is mediating a market conflict between Kerala's Milma and Karnataka's Nandini milk brands, potentially involving central government intervention to facilitate Nandini’s market entry. Moreover, NDDB is establishing a solar-powered dairy processing plant in Kargil to meet the Indian Army's daily demand for fresh milk, involving 1,500 farmers and processing 10,000 litres of milk per day. NDDB also manages a refurbished facility in Leh and collaborates with the Ladakh UT Dairy Cooperative Federation.

Ownership and Leadership

Mother Dairy, another significant entity in the Indian dairy market, is owned by NDDB. Currently, Mother Dairy is undergoing a leadership change, a move with strategic implications for the dairy industry.

Sustainability and Technological Initiatives

NDDB is spearheading efforts to integrate biogas production into rural dairy cooperatives, offering economic and environmental benefits. The organization supports biogas infrastructure across various scales, from small household digesters to large Bio-CNG plants under the SATAT programme. NDDB is also involved in the agreement for the development of a biogas plant in collaboration with Suzuki Motor Corporation and Sumul Dairy, aiming to convert cattle dung into biofuel.

In terms of digital transformation, NDDB has implemented several initiatives such as the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) with a 'Pashu Aadhaar' system, the Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS), and the Dairy ERP platform (NDERP). NDDB is also partnering with ICAR to boost dairy productivity, bringing its experience in dairy development and cooperative building to tackle challenges like stagnant productivity, rising feed costs, and climate variability.

Modified: 2026/01/19