What was the White Revolution?
The White Revolution, also called Operation Flood, started on 13 January 1970 in India. It was the largest dairy development programme in the world.
Its main aim was to increase milk production and make India self-sufficient in milk. Before this programme, India did not produce enough milk and depended on imports.
After Operation Flood, India became the world’s largest milk producer, even surpassing the United States in 1998. By 2018, India contributed about 22% of global milk production.
Within about 30 years, the programme:
- Doubled the milk available per person
- Made dairy farming a major source of rural employment
- Helped farmers earn regular income
Role of Verghese Kurien and Amul
The success of Operation Flood is mainly credited to Verghese Kurien, known as the Father of the White Revolution.
- He was the founder of Amul and chairman of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
- He was appointed by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Another important contributor was Harichand Megha Dalaya.
- He developed technology to make skimmed milk powder from buffalo milk, which was very important for India.
- This helped Amul compete with global companies like Nestlé.
Introduction and Objectives of Operation Flood
Operation Flood created a national milk grid. This connected milk producers in villages with consumers in cities.
This system:
- Reduced price differences across regions and seasons
- Removed middlemen, so farmers got better income
- Ensured regular milk supply in cities
At the core were village dairy co-operatives, where farmers:
- Collected and sold milk together
- Received services like veterinary care, feed, and training
Main Objectives
- Increase milk production
- Increase income of rural farmers
- Provide fair prices to consumers
- Reduce poverty in villages
- Ensure a steady milk supply
Phases of Operation Flood
Phase I (1970–1980)
- Funded by donated milk powder and butter oil from the European Economic Community through the World Food Programme
- Connected 18 milk-producing areas (milk sheds) with big cities like:
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Kolkata
- Chennai
- Set up Mother Dairy plants in these cities
- Total cost: about ₹1.16 billion
Main Focus:
- Improve milk supply in major cities
- Increase farmers’ share in profits
- Develop dairy animals in rural areas
Phase II (1981–1985)
- Expanded milk sheds from 18 to 136
- Increased milk selling outlets in cities to 290
- Covered:
- 43,000 village co-operatives
- 42.5 lakh (4.25 million) farmers
Major Achievements:
- Milk powder production increased from 22,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes
- India became more self-reliant in milk production
- Direct selling by co-operatives increased
Funding support came from:
- European Economic Community (EEC)
- World Bank loans
Phase III (1985–1996)
- Focused on strengthening infrastructure and expanding co-operatives
- Added 30,000 new co-operatives
- Total milk sheds reached 173
Key Improvements:
- Veterinary services for animal health
- Better cattle feed
- Artificial insemination services
- Training and education for farmers
Special Progress:
- More women joined dairy co-operatives
- Increased focus on research and development
Innovations included:
- Vaccines for animal diseases (like theileriosis)
- Better feed like urea-molasses mineral blocks
- Improved nutrition for dairy animals
Conclusion
The White Revolution was a game-changer for India’s agriculture and rural economy. It:
- Made India the largest milk producer in the world
- Increased farmers’ income
- Created employment in rural areas
- Ensured affordable milk for consumers
Overall, Operation Flood showed how co-operation, technology, and proper planning can transform a country’s economy.