Maniben Jesungbhai Chaudhary from Gujarat secured the second position in Banaskantha district by selling milk worth 1.94 crore rupees in 2024-25. She has now purchased 100 new buffaloes and aims to sell milk worth 3 crore rupees next year.
Banaskantha: Maniben Jesungbhai Chaudhary has set a new example of women's empowerment in Gujarat's dairy sector. This 65-year-old woman, associated with Banas Dairy, sold milk worth 1.94 crore rupees in the year 2024-25, securing the second position in the district. Maniben has now set a target to sell milk worth 3 crore rupees in the new year. For this, she has purchased 100 new buffaloes, increasing her livestock count of cows and buffaloes to over 230.
Maniben Honored at District Level in Dairy Sector
Maniben collected approximately 1100 liters of milk daily in Kasra village of Kankrej taluka. In the year 2024-25, she collected a total of 3.47 lakh liters of milk, valued at over 1.94 crore rupees. Due to this achievement, she secured the second position in the 'Shreshth Banas Laxmi' category across the entire Banaskantha district.
Maniben was also presented with a certificate of honor at the general meeting held in Badarpura, Banaskantha. This recognition inspired local dairy farmers and women to strive towards self-reliance.
100 New Buffaloes Purchased for Dairy Expansion
Maniben is continuously striving to further develop her dairy business. She has three sons in her family, who, under the leadership of Vipulbhai, have purchased 100 new buffaloes. In 2011, she had only 10-12 cows and buffaloes, which has now increased to over 230.
Currently, she has 140 buffaloes, 90 cows, and approximately 70 calves. Her shed houses Bani, Mehsana, Murrah, and HF breeds of buffaloes. Additionally, four indigenous Kankrej breed cows are also kept. Maniben's goal is to set new records by selling milk worth over 3 crore rupees by the end of the year.
Maniben's Dairy Business Provides Employment to Villagers
Approximately 16 families are associated with Maniben's dairy business. Her family members actively assist in milking cows and buffaloes, shed maintenance, and operating machinery. By utilizing modern machines and techniques, Maniben has modernized her animal husbandry practices.
Due to the increasing income from animal husbandry, young people are now also motivated to join this sector. Out of over 3.6 million dairy members in the state, more than 1.1 million are active women. Maniben's story has become a source of inspiration for other dairy farmers in the state.
Maniben Empowers Women in Dairy Sector
State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, sharing Maniben's achievements, stated that such examples are inspiring for women's empowerment and in the cooperative sector. Maniben has not only increased her income but has also encouraged other women to become self-reliant through the cooperative dairy system.
Her hard work and foresight have proven that both economic and social development are possible with women's participation in the cooperative sector. Maniben's efforts have become an example not only for Banaskantha district but for the entire state's dairy industry.
