A pilot initiative to introduce pasteurised goat milk into the organised retail stream has been launched in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, linking local goat rearers with institutional collection and sale through ANIIDCO outlets. The move comes against the backdrop of rising demand for goat milk in the country and an estimated goat population of about 59,000 in the Islands, where milking of goats had not been a regular practice.
Goat milk is described as nutritious, easily digestible and rich in minerals, with uses ranging from direct consumption to preparation of specialised dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt and butter. Goats can yield up to two to three litres of milk daily, according to the information shared, positioning the activity as a potential supplementary income source if organised collection and marketing systems are put in place.
In the Islands, goats are largely reared by small and marginal farmers, including women, primarily for meat and due to low maintenance requirements. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has taken up an initiative to encourage goat farmers to form cooperatives and market goat milk as a regular income-generating activity. The cooperative model is intended to support aggregation, assured procurement and structured participation in the supply chain.
ANIIDCO has stepped in to collect, process and sell the milk as part of the pilot project. The sale of pasteurised goat milk through ANIIDCO’s Milk Division has been launched, marking the entry of goat milk into the corporation’s retail framework. By integrating processing and retail under an existing public-sector distribution network, the initiative links primary producers with a ready market channel.
The initiative is also positioned as contributing to conservation of the local Andaman goat while expanding livelihood options. The project is framed as serving two parallel objectives, making goat milk available to consumers and supporting farmers through an additional revenue stream. The formation of livestock cooperative societies is being promoted to enable more farmers to contribute to the supply chain under organised procurement arrangements.
Fresh Andaman goat milk will be sold in 200 ml bottles priced at Rs. 70. The product is to be available at all ANIIDCO outlets, including three milk parlours located near Khaitan Mandapam in Junglighat, Shadipur Junction and Mohanpura Bus Terminus, along with two milk carts operating at Bathubasti and Marina Park. These points form part of ANIIDCO’s existing milk retail infrastructure, now expanded to include goat milk alongside other dairy offerings.
The move introduces a new segment within the Islands’ dairy landscape, which has traditionally centred more on conventional milk supply chains. By structuring collection, pasteurisation and retail through institutional mechanisms, the pilot seeks to test the viability of a goat milk value chain in local conditions. Such pilots often serve as precursors to scale-up decisions based on farmer participation, consumer response and operational outcomes.
With demand for alternative dairy products growing and goat rearing already present among smallholders, the project connects existing livestock practices with a formal marketing pathway. Its progress is likely to be watched in terms of both livelihood impact and market acceptance, as the Islands explore diversification within agriculture and allied sectors through targeted, institution-backed pilots.
