Cruising through the milk ocean with women at the helm Premium

Each of the 1.09 lakh women supplying milk to the Shreeja Mahila Milk Producers Company Limited is made a proud shareholder of the firm

What began as a modest cooperative venture, within a span of just eight years, has turned into the world’s largest dairy firm fully owned by rural women —Shreeja Mahila Milk Producers Company Limited (MMPCL).

Launched in 2014 in the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) format with its headquarters at Tirupati is now co-owned by a massive 1.09 lakh women from South India. Every woman supplying milk to the dairy is made a proud shareholder of the firm.

The company’s journey began with milk procurement from a handful of villages in the Chittoor district with the support of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Today, its roots have spread far and wide covering five districts of southern Andhra Pradesh, five in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka.

The secret behind this unprecedented success is the sense of ownership among its shareholders who feel attached to their work. These women also show a strict commitment towards milk quality and have zero adulteration tendencies.

As a result, it has carved a niche for itself in the dairy-rich southern Rayalaseema region. “We achieved a turnover of ₹706 crores last year and now aim to touch ₹900 crores this year”, Chief Executive Officer Jayatheertha Chary told The Hindu. The company also made an impressive profit of ₹5 crores, the lion’s share of it going back to the women owners towards dividend.

The company has consistently ensured strong forward and backward linkages. Armed with an assured milk supply of a mind-boggling six lakh litres every day from even interior villages, the company has taken forward its marketing policy to reach the shelves of the supermarkets, besides directly supplying to the doorsteps.