Cargill India to Establish New Dairy Feed Plant in Punjab

Cargill India has announced its plan to build a second dairy feed plant in Punjab, investing Rs 300 crore in the new facility near Wazirabad. This initiative is part of the company's strategy to extend its footprint across Southern and Eastern India.

Ravinder Balain, the country president of Cargill India, stated that the new plant will have a production capacity of 4 lakh tonnes per annum. The investment is anticipated to improve supply reliability and farm profitability for dairy farmers, while also contributing to local employment by creating 1000 jobs directly and indirectly.

The company is collaborating with dairy producers to introduce digital tools and farm management techniques aimed at enhancing cattle health and milk productivity. Cargill's animal nutrition segment, which contributes 15-20% of its overall business in India, is experiencing growth above the market rate. The Indian animal nutrition market is currently around 20 million tonnes and is projected to grow by 6-8% annually over the next five years.

Additionally, Cargill operates an existing dairy feed plant near Bathinda, Punjab, which is currently functioning at full capacity. India remains the largest milk producer globally with an annual output of approximately 239.3 million metric tonnes in 2023-24. The Indian dairy industry, valued at Rs 18,975 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to Rs 57,001.81 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.35% from 2025 to 2033.