For any woman who has spent most of her life as a homemaker, stepping out into the world and creating something from scratch can seem daunting. Self-doubt and lack of knowledge often undermine courage. However, when a woman decides to follow her heart, little can stop her from achieving her goals. Such is the story of Daryaben Rajput, the dairy queen from Banaskantha, Gujarat. Starting as a hardworking homemaker, she has become a symbol of women's entrepreneurship in rural India, managing a dairy business worth crores while caring for cattle and providing employment to dozens.
The Story of Her Life
Associated with Banas Dairy, Daryaben supplies around 1,000 litres of milk every day. She owns over 300 cattle, and her dairy empire generates an annual income of ₹1.85 crore. Initially, she ventured into the dairy industry to support her household. At age 18, shortly after marriage, she began caring for the few animals owned by her in-laws, milking them and selling milk locally. Over time, her effort evolved into a multimillion-rupee business. She expanded beyond basic animal husbandry, increased livestock, improved milk production, and developed her dairy enterprise.
The Queen and Her Empire
Today, Daryaben's farm houses approximately 200 buffaloes and 100 cows, totaling 300 animals. To support production, she employs 14 workers who live nearby. Her day begins at 3:30 am with milk collection and other farm maintenance tasks. Her dairy supplies around 1,000 litres of milk daily to Banas Dairy. This effort generates a gross monthly income of around ₹20 lakh and an annual net worth of ₹1.85 crore. Her success stems not just from owning a dairy but from effective management, production strategies, and strong integration with the dairy cooperative network.
Banas Dairy: A Ray of Hope
Banas Dairy has played a significant role in Daryaben's success and that of many other female entrepreneurs in Gujarat. As one of India's largest dairy cooperative networks, it connects millions of milk producers. By providing regular payments, technical guidance, and reliable market access, the cooperative has substantially increased rural incomes. Daryaben is one of many beneficiaries. Among the 472,000 milk producers associated with Banas Dairy, around 168,000 are women, highlighting the dairy sector's growing importance as a platform for women's economic participation. It shows how women in rural areas are no longer limited to household chores and livestock care but have become managers and entrepreneurs, making decisions on production, finance, and expansion.
