Meet the Maharashtra Village Woman Earning ₹1 Crore Annually with Pure Milk, Paneer & Ghee
Meet the Maharashtra Village Woman Earning ₹1 Crore Annually with Pure Milk, Paneer & Ghee
In 2013, Shraddha Dhawan, a young woman from the small village of Nighoj in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, founded Shraddha Farms, a dairy business that now serves customers across India. The farm produces and supplies buffalo milk, paneer, ghee, and various other dairy products to dairies, retail shops, and direct customers, all made naturally without any additives or artificial flavors.
From an early age, Shraddha was involved in her father’s cattle trade business, accompanying him to the city during summer vacations. It was during these trips that she learned to identify high-quality buffaloes, negotiate prices, and understand the nuances of the cattle trade. Armed with her knowledge and a strong work ethic, Shraddha started her own dairy business with seven buffaloes, handling the milking herself and selling the milk to a local dairy.
Over the years, Shraddha Farms grew significantly. Today, the farm has expanded to 130 buffaloes, with a product range that includes ghee, butter, lassi, buttermilk, and curd. In addition to dairy production, Shraddha Farms has a 1-tonne biogas project that generates electricity and produces slurry—a mix of waste, dung, and urine—which is sold as fertilizer to local farmers.
Resilience During COVID-19
Despite milk being an essential item during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Shraddha faced multiple challenges, including blocked roads that disrupted transport to dairies. Additionally, the price of milk per liter dropped by ₹8, creating financial stress. Yet, Shraddha Farms persisted and soon recovered, continuing its mission to provide natural dairy products across the nation.
Growth and Community Impact
As the farm grew, Shraddha expanded her vision beyond business success. Today, she also runs a training center that has trained over 5,000 aspiring dairy farmers, equipping them with skills to run their own dairy businesses. Through these efforts, she aims to unite dairy farmers, helping them achieve better livelihoods through collaboration. Shraddha Farms reported earnings of ₹1 crore in FY 24, with multiple outlets now established near Pune to reach more customers directly.
Shraddha Dhawan’s journey from a small village to a successful entrepreneur highlights her determination, resilience, and vision to uplift both her community and the dairy industry.
