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Economic Empowerment through Dairy Cooperatives: A Case Study of Rambhas Division Milk Cooperative Society in Dang District, Gujarat
Author(s): Bhavin A Patel
Authors Affiliations:
Research scholar
Department of rural studies, VNSGU, Surat
DOIs:10.2018/SS/202508013 | Paper ID: SS202508013Abstract
Tribal communities in India's remote and geographically challenging areas often face limited access to markets, fair pricing mechanisms, and institutional support for agricultural activities. While dairy cooperatives have emerged as effective institutional models for addressing these challenges, their impact in tribal regions remains underexplored in academic literature. This study examines the transformative socio-economic impact of the Rambhas Division Milk Cooperative Society, affiliated with Vasudhra Dairy, on tribal farmers in Dang district, Gujarat, with particular emphasis on women's empowerment and community development.
A qualitative case study approach was employed, incorporating field observations, informal interviews with cooperative members and officials, analysis of operational data from Vasudhra Dairy, and review of cooperative society records. The study was conducted in Rambhas village, Dang district, which has a 94.7% tribal population and is characterized by challenging hilly terrain and dense forests. The cooperative demonstrated significant positive impacts including substantial increases in household income through fair milk pricing and regular bi-weekly payments, enhanced women's participation in economic activities and decision-making processes, improved livestock productivity through veterinary services and artificial insemination programs, strengthened community cohesion through cooperative governance structures, and successful adoption of modern technology in traditional animal husbandry practices.
The Rambhas model illustrates that well-structured dairy cooperatives can effectively address market failures in tribal areas while simultaneously promoting economic empowerment and social transformation. The partnership between village-level societies and larger dairy unions creates sustainable value chains that benefit smallholder farmers, particularly women and marginalized communities. This model provides valuable insights for scaling similar interventions in other tribal regions across India and suggests that government and development agencies should prioritize cooperative dairy development as a strategy for tribal empowerment, with particular attention to women's participation and technological integration.
Bhavin A Patel (2025); Economic Empowerment Through Dairy Cooperatives: A Case Study of Rambhas Division Milk Cooperative Society in Dang District, Gujarat, Shikshan Sanshodhan : Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, ISSN(o): 2581-6241, Volume – 8, Issue – 8., Pp. 76-80. Available on – https://shikshansanshodhan.researchculturesociety.org/
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