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Writer's pictureVijay Jai

White revolution: The era that changed the dairy landscape in India

The white revolution (also known as Operation Flood) was a movement initiated in India during the 1970s. It was aimed at transforming the nation from being a milk-deficient country to the world’s largest milk producer. This change in milk production and consumption has created what is now known as the ‘White Revolution’. It began with the adoption of advanced dairy technology, which enabled India to increase its milk production from under 10 million tonnes in 1970 to over 150 million tonnes by 2004. In this blog post, we will take a look at how the White Revolution has shaped India's agriculture and food industry, its impact on rural development, and how it can be improved further


The White Revolution was a series of socio-economic and political reforms launched in 1963 by the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The revolution consisted of land reform, nationalization of forests and pastures, irrigation dam construction, and distribution of land to peasants and farmers. The overall goal of the White Revolution was to modernize Iran and reduce its economic dependence on foreign countries.


India has been long known for its rich history, culture and agriculture. But in recent years, the country has been undergoing a revolution of sorts – one that is aimed at transforming India’s traditional agricultural industry into a modern, sustainable and profitable enterprise. This revolution is called ‘White Revolution’ and it involves the production of dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter and yogurt. It was launched in 1970 with an aim to improve the lives of millions of small farmers in rural India by increasing their income through better dairy farming practices and more efficient processing technologies. In this blog post, we will take a look at how White Revolution has changed the face of Indian agriculture over the years and what impact it has had on rural communities.


The White Revolution, also known as Operation Flood, was a program launched in India in 1970 to increase milk production. The program was led by Dr. Verghese Kurien and was considered a major success, making India the world's largest milk producer. The program used modern techniques such as artificial insemination and improved breeds of cattle to increase milk production, and also established a network of milk cooperatives to collect, process, and distribute milk. The White Revolution had a significant impact on the Indian economy, as it helped increase rural income and employment, and also improved the nutritional status of the population. Additionally, it also led to the formation of AMUL, one of the most successful cooperatives in the world.

Its impact in india-

  • Increased milk production: The White Revolution helped to increase milk production in India, making the country the world's largest milk producer.

  • Improved rural income and employment: The program created jobs and increased income for rural farmers through the establishment of milk cooperatives.

  • Improved nutritional status: The increased availability of milk helped to improve the nutritional status of the population, particularly for children.

  • Formation of successful cooperatives: The program led to the formation of successful cooperatives such as AMUL, which continue to play a major role in the Indian economy.

  • Development of dairy industry: The program helped to develop the dairy industry in India, which has now become an important sector of the economy.

  • Increase in rural Development: The program also helped to improve the overall development in rural areas, as the farmers were able to sell their milk and earn a livelihood.

  • Socio-Economic Development: The program led to the socio-economic development of rural population and it also helped to reduce the gap between rural and urban areas.

  • Change in mindset: The program helped to change the mindset of rural farmers, moving them from subsistence farming to commercial farming.





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