At a time when many young professionals are seeking urban employment, Sonika, a resident of Bilaspur district, has chosen a different path—one that combines science, self-reliance, and sustainable farming. A trained TGT Science teacher by qualification, she has built a thriving dairy enterprise that today stands as an example of how determination and government support can transform rural livelihoods.
Sonika began her dairy journey in 2019 with just one Jersey cow. Over the past six years, she has expanded her farm to six cows and one heifer, managing operations with a mix of modern tools and traditional care. Her farm now produces around 57 liters of milk daily, earning her a gross monthly income of approximately ₹1.10 lakh. After expenses, her net profit stands at about ₹74,000 per month, making dairy farming a highly sustainable and profitable venture.
She attributes much of her success to the state government’s minimum support price (MSP) policy for milk producers, introduced under Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s leadership. The policy has stabilized milk prices at ₹51 per liter for cow milk and ₹61 per liter for buffalo milk, providing rural farmers a reliable income and market security.
Her day begins before sunrise at 5:30 am. With the help of her husband and family, she completes the morning routine by 7 am and resumes again in the evening between 5 pm and 6:30 pm. She follows scientific dairy practices, using a modern milking machine for lactating cows and a chaff cutter for green fodder preparation. She also maintains regular consultations with officials and veterinarians from the Animal Husbandry Department to ensure herd health and productivity.
Sonika’s success reflects a broader shift in Himachal Pradesh’s rural economy—one where educated youth and women are entering agriculture not out of compulsion, but with a sense of opportunity and purpose.
