Odisha Govt Transfers ₹31.1 Crore to Dairy Farmers as Seasonal Milk Incentive

Bhubaneswar: Giving a major boost to the state’s dairy sector, the Odisha government has disbursed ₹31.1 crore in incentives to dairy farmers across the state. The funds were transferred directly to the bank accounts of around one lakh farmers registered with OMFED (Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd) under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

The incentive was calculated based on milk contributions made by the farmers to OMFED between September 2024 and February 2025, a period traditionally marked by reduced milk output due to seasonal challenges. To support farmers during this lean season, OMFED had earlier announced an incentive ranging from ₹1 to ₹5 per litre of milk supplied.

The state government had also extended financial assistance to OMFED to help sustain operations and ensure timely payments to farmers during the low-yield months.

Of the 11 district dairy cooperative societies functioning in Odisha, Cuttack topped both in number of beneficiaries and total disbursement, with 33,000 farmers receiving ₹13 crore. Balasore followed with 18,000 beneficiaries and ₹5 crore disbursed. In contrast, Mayurbhanj recorded the lowest participation, with ₹20 lakh credited to just 531 farmers.

Other district-wise incentive figures include:

• Sambalpur: ₹4.37 crore
• Balangir-Kalahandi-Nuapada cluster: ₹2.62 crore
• Puri: ₹2.32 crore

OMFED Managing Director Vijay Amruta Kulange confirmed that the incentive scheme would continue into the next financial year, ensuring sustained support for dairy farmers. He emphasized that such initiatives are vital for strengthening rural economies and improving livelihoods in the dairy sector.