GADVASU Trained 56 Women Entrepreneurs in Dairy Business and Value Addition

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) in Ludhiana organised the programme through its Directorate of Extension Education. It was designed for rural women involved in dairy farming and combined technical instruction with practical exposure to dairy processing.

Sessions addressed scientific herd management and preventive animal healthcare. Participants were introduced to approaches for maintaining herd health, managing dairy operations and identifying possible animal-health problems at an earlier stage. The programme also linked animal health with milk production and the financial performance of dairy farms.

Milk hygiene formed another part of the training. The participants received guidance on handling milk hygienically during milking, collection, storage and processing, with attention to practices intended to limit contamination and maintain product quality.

The programme also introduced the idea of small dairy processing units. Such facilities can enable farmers and other small businesses to turn raw milk into products with greater commercial value. Experts discussed product diversification, premium dairy items, packaging and marketing, as well as business models focused on profitable operations.

As part of the practical component, the women visited GADVASU’s milk plant and processing chain. There they observed dairy-processing equipment, procedures and techniques directly, including how milk can be handled and converted into different products.

Dr JPS Gill, GADVASU’s vice-chancellor, said that providing women dairy entrepreneurs with scientific knowledge, practical abilities and entrepreneurial skills could improve dairy-product quality, raise household incomes and create sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural areas. The training brought together animal husbandry, milk hygiene, processing, value addition and business development.