The West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Ltd (WAMUL) has reported a significant surge in its financial performance, announcing that Purabi Dairy posts 33% rise in turnover to ₹400 crore in FY2025-26. This growth marks a substantial leap from the ₹306 crore recorded in the previous fiscal year, signaling a period of aggressive scaling for the cooperative brand across Northeast India.
The expansion is rooted in a strengthening of the grassroots supply chain, with the cooperative now supporting a network of over 58,000 dairy farmers across Assam. This increase in the producer base has pushed average milk procurement to 1.6 lakh litres per day (LLPD), with peak procurement periods now exceeding 2 LLPD.
According to a statement from the cooperative, the growth was not limited to raw milk volume but was driven by a strategic pivot toward value-added products and the penetration of previously underserved geographic markets. This dual-track approach has allowed the brand to increase its market share while providing more sustainable income streams for local farmers.
Scaling the Cooperative Infrastructure
To sustain this trajectory, WAMUL has focused heavily on the “first-mile” infrastructure. During the financial year, the cooperative organized more than 900 new Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), bringing the total number of societies within the Purabi network to over 1,600. This organizational growth ensures that more small-scale farmers have a direct, formal link to the processing plants.
Quality control and procurement efficiency have also been bolstered by the installation of 11 new Bulk Milk Cooling Centres (BMC). These facilities, which bring the total count to 59, are critical for maintaining the cold chain and ensuring that milk quality remains consistent from the farm to the processing unit.
The operational footprint has expanded geographically, most notably into the Barak Valley and through a strengthened presence in eastern Assam. A key milestone in this regional expansion was the inauguration of a new milk processing plant in Silchar with a capacity of 20,000 litres per day, which has significantly reduced supply chain bottlenecks in the region.
Current Processing Capacity Breakdown
| Location | Capacity (Litres Per Day) |
|---|---|
| Panjabari, Guwahati | 1.5 Lakh (150,000) |
| Silchar | 20,000 |
| Dhemaji | 10,000 |
Diversification and Consumer Trends
While liquid milk remains the core of the business, the growth engine has shifted toward high-margin, value-added segments. North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL), the marketing arm for Purabi Dairy products, reported a 48 per cent growth in product volume on a milk equivalent basis. While pouch milk volume saw a steady 10 per cent increase, the value-added category outperformed expectations.
Curd, in particular, saw a 49 per cent volume growth. The cooperative attributed this success to the introduction of new stock-keeping units (SKUs), including 1 kg pouch curd and sweet curd in pouches, which catered to changing household consumption patterns.
The brand has also diversified its portfolio to compete with national players by introducing ice cream, flavoured milk, and “Purabi Smart” UHT tetra pack milk. These additions have allowed the cooperative to capture a broader demographic of consumers, particularly urban youth and those seeking longer shelf-life products.
“Purabi Dairy’s growth this year reflects the strength of our cooperative model and the trust of over 58,000 farmers who are part of this journey. This milestone reinforces our commitment to creating sustainable livelihoods for farmers while delivering quality dairy products to consumers,” said WAMUL managing director Sameer Kumar Parida.
Satya Brata Bose, managing director of NEDFL, noted that the performance of these new categories highlights a shift in evolving consumer demand and the cooperative’s ability to respond through product innovation.
The Roadmap to 10 Lakh Litres Per Day
The current growth is viewed as a stepping stone toward a larger state-level ambition. Under the Government of Assam’s dairy development initiatives, the vision is to scale the state’s capacity to handle 10 lakh litres of milk per day.
To meet this target, WAMUL is currently implementing several capacity expansions. The existing Panjabari plant is being upgraded to handle 3 LLPD. The cooperative is expanding its physical infrastructure in the eastern and central belts of the state. In March of this year, foundation stones were laid for three new facilities:
- Jorhat: A new plant with a capacity of 1 lakh litres per day.
- Dibrugarh: A new plant with a capacity of 1 lakh litres per day.
- Dhemaji: An expansion adding 50,000 litres per day of capacity.
Once these facilities are operational, they are expected to create a more resilient dairy value chain, reducing the reliance on a single centralized hub and allowing for more localized procurement, and distribution.
The next phase of growth will depend on the successful commissioning of the Jorhat and Dibrugarh plants and the completion of the Panjabari upgrade. These developments will be monitored through upcoming quarterly reports and state dairy development audits.
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