Small dairy unit
A dairy unit does not depend on soil chemistry, so it works on parcels a crop would fail on — what it needs is water, a shed and reliable daily labour. Animals come in after the shed and fodder plot are ready, and milk starts flowing within about three months. Unlike every crop model, the income is daily rather than seasonal.
Land needed
0.5 acres+
First harvest
3 months
Indicative yield
4,500 kg/acre
Water need
High
Indicative setup
₹6,00,000
Species covered
1
What gets planted
| Species | Soil pH | Harvest | Yield / acre | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy farm | 5–8 | 3 months | 4,500 kg | ₹48/kg |
The full crop cycle
Every stage below is tracked in the app: field staff close tasks with photos and a location, and a supervisor approves them before the cycle moves on.
- 1
Site & shed
Month 0–2Shed built with a sloped floor, drainage, water line and a manure pit; the parcel is checked for access and effluent handling.
- 2
Fodder plot
Month 1–3Napier or fodder maize planted on part of the parcel to cut bought-feed cost, plus silage or dry fodder storage.
- 3
Animals & vet setup
Month 2–3Crossbred milch animals sourced and health-checked, vaccination and deworming schedule set with a veterinarian.
- 4
Daily operations
Month 3–36Two milkings a day, feeding, shed cleaning and health observation recorded as tasks; yield logged animal by animal.
- 5
Milk sale & by-products
Month 3–36Milk goes to society collection and local buyers daily; slurry and dung return to our own crop parcels as organic manure.
Project report
Basis: 10-cow unit · about 0.5 acre with fodder plot · 12-month cycle
Setup cost (one-time)
₹10,80,000
Running cost / cycle
₹9,95,000
Expected sales / cycle
₹12,66,400
Farm margin / cycle
₹2,71,400
Cycles per year
1
After first cycle
−₹8,08,600
Break-even
Month 48
Sales begin
Month 1
Setup cost
| Cattle shed & drainage | ₹3,00,000 |
| 10 crossbred cows | ₹7,00,000 |
| Milking machine & chaff cutter | ₹60,000 |
| Fodder plot (CO-3 grass) | ₹20,000 |
| Total | ₹10,80,000 |
Running cost per cycle
| Concentrate feed | ₹6,57,000 |
| Green fodder & straw top-up | ₹60,000 |
| Vet care & insurance | ₹50,000 |
| SHG field labour | ₹1,80,000 |
| Water & power | ₹24,000 |
| Landowner lease (indicative) | ₹24,000 |
| Total | ₹9,95,000 |
Expected sales per cycle
| Milk (7 cows in milk, 10 L/day) | 25,550 litre × ₹48 | ₹12,26,400 |
| Dung & compost | 1 year × ₹40,000 | ₹40,000 |
Season scenarios (per cycle)
Weak: 25% lower yield and 15% lower price. Good: 10% higher on both.
Weak season
Sales ₹8,07,330
Margin −₹1,87,670
Expected
Sales ₹12,66,400
Margin ₹2,71,400
Good season
Sales ₹15,32,344
Margin ₹5,37,344
Key success factors
- Home-grown fodder is the biggest lever on feed cost.
- Calving interval of about 13 months keeps milk steady.
- Milk society or direct sale assures daily cash.
Main risks
- High setup — break-even takes several years.
- Disease (mastitis, foot-and-mouth) hits output fast.
- Feed prices rise faster than milk prices.
Final summary
Daily income from the first month, but thin margins against a large setup. Viable when fodder is grown on site and herd health is managed tightly; this is a long-term livelihood unit, not a quick crop.
What this means for you
For landowners
- Works on land with poor soil, as long as there is water and vehicle access.
- The shed is a permanent improvement; who owns it at the end of the tenure is written into the agreement.
- Effluent and manure handling is our responsibility and is inspected.
- Half an acre is enough for the shed plus a fodder patch.
For SHG teams
- This is the most demanding model for a team — work happens every single day, twice a day.
- Milking, feeding, cleaning and health checks arrive as daily recurring tasks.
- Yield per animal is logged, so a team's care shows directly in the record.
- Pay is monthly rather than per harvest, which suits teams wanting steady income.
For bulk buyers
- Harvest dates are planned in advance, so bulk orders can be booked against a known window.
- Every batch carries a trace code linking it to the parcel, crop cycle and harvest date.
- Grown organically under supervised field records; quality grade is noted at collection.
- Hotels, institutions, retailers and Ayurveda makers can arrange scheduled pickups or delivery.
- Supply depends on weather and season; confirmed quantities are shared closer to harvest.
All figures on this page are indicative planning numbers drawn from our crop catalogue. Actual yield, timing and price depend on soil, weather and market. This is a private venture with no government affiliation, and nothing here is an offer of guaranteed returns.