New Delhi: India’s dairy sector is undergoing a major digital transformation aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and farmer welfare, with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) leading the effort through a suite of technology-driven initiatives, according to an official release.
India, which produces nearly 25 per cent of the world’s milk, has adopted several digital platforms across the dairy value chain—from livestock management to milk collection, processing, and distribution—to modernise operations and strengthen the cooperative ecosystem.
Under the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM), more than 35.68 crore livestock animals have been issued a unique digital identity known as “Pashu Aadhaar” as of November 2025. Implemented by NDDB in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the mission aims to create a unified digital livestock database under the “Bharat Pashudhan” framework. The database records breeding, vaccination, health services, and treatment details, with over 84 crore transactions logged so far, enabling traceable and data-driven livestock management.
Farmers can access veterinary services and advisory support through the 1962 mobile application and toll-free helpline, which provide information on best practices and facilitate doorstep veterinary services through Mobile Veterinary Units.
To enhance transparency in milk procurement, NDDB has developed the Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS), which digitally records milk quantity, quality, and fat content at Dairy Cooperative Societies and enables direct bank transfers to farmers. Currently operational in 12 states and Union Territories, AMCS covers over 26,000 cooperative societies and benefits more than 17.3 lakh milk producers across 54 milk unions. Farmers receive real-time SMS updates on milk sales and payments, while cooperatives use the data for procurement and production planning.
The AMCS ecosystem includes multilingual desktop applications at society level, centralised portals for unions and federations, and Android-based mobile applications serving as digital passbooks for farmers. As of October 2025, over 2.43 lakh farmers and thousands of cooperative officials have registered on the AMCS mobile platform.
Further strengthening digital integration, NDDB has introduced the NDDB Dairy Enterprise Resource Planning system (NDERP), a web-based, open-source platform tailored for dairy and edible oil industries. The system integrates key functions such as finance, inventory, sales, manufacturing, and human resources, and is accessible through web and mobile applications. NDERP is integrated with AMCS to provide an end-to-end digital solution from milk collection to consumer delivery.
In the breeding segment, the Semen Station Management System (SSMS) has been deployed across 38 graded semen stations nationwide. Developed under the National Dairy Plan-I, the system digitally monitors semen production, quality control, biosecurity, and distribution, and is linked with national portals to ensure traceability and adherence to government protocols.
The Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) supports real-time data capture on breeding, nutrition, and animal health services delivered at farmers’ doorsteps, enabling monitoring of productivity and programme outcomes.
NDDB has also developed the Internet-based Dairy Information System (i-DIS), a unified platform used by nearly 198 milk unions, 29 marketing dairies, 54 cattle-feed plants, and 15 federations. The system enables performance tracking, benchmarking, and evidence-based planning, contributing to a national cooperative dairy industry database.
To reduce logistics costs, NDDB has introduced GIS-based milk route optimisation, replacing manual route planning with digital mapping and analytics. Pilot projects in several states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, have resulted in significant savings in transportation costs and improved delivery efficiency. A web-based route planning tool has been made available free of cost to dairy cooperatives to support wider adoption.
Officials said these integrated digital initiatives are helping create a more efficient, transparent, and inclusive dairy ecosystem, directly linking millions of small and marginal farmers to modern technology. By combining cooperative strength with digital innovation, India is emerging as a global leader in sustainable and technology-driven dairy development, the release added.
