Central Dairy Cooperative Association Nepal (CDCAN) was established in 2001 as the umbrella organisation for Nepal’s milk and dairy producers’ cooperatives. It represents 853 milk producer cooperatives (MPCs) and 35 district-level unions across 45 districts, with 423,000 member households, 40% of whom are women. CDCAN is formally represented in the Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and collaborates with key government agencies. Despite its role in shaping dairy sector policies, it currently lacks parallel institutional support.

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Implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the Raw Milk Supply Chain

CASA partnered with CDCAN to implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the raw milk supply chain, aligning with Nepal’s Agricultural Development Strategy (ADS) 2015–2035. While previous initiatives assessed GMP gaps and provided training, widespread adoption remains limited. This project aimed to enforce hygiene and quality standards across the dairy value chain by engaging processors, cooperatives, and collection centres. Dairy processors play a key role by aligning with GMP standards, working with collection centres and cooperatives, and contributing to a Dairy Programme Promotion Fund. This fund helps to sustain GMP activities and works to transition towards quality-based milk pricing.

Structured over 24 months and completed in June 2023, the project included three phases: COVID relief, technical preparedness, and GMP implementation. Relief efforts supported farmers with financial aid, credit access, mineral supplements, and the restoration of breeding and animal health services. CASA funded 15 MPCs to enhance productivity and maintain essential services. Capacity-building included personnel training, a baseline survey, and training materials development, alongside a national project launch workshop to drive GMP adoption.

The total project cost was £332,898, with CASA contributing £155,286 (47%). The initiative reached 10,000 farmers and trained 84 Local Resource Persons (LRPs) to sustain GMP practices across Nepal’s dairy industry.

Updated: March 2025