From Homemaker to Dairy Queen: All about Daryaben, this Gujarat woman who built a Rs 1.85 crore empire

For years, Daryaben Rajput's world revolved around household chores, caring for her family and tending to a few cattle owned by her in-laws. Few could have imagined that the shy homemaker from Gujarat's Banaskantha district would one day become the owner of a dairy business worth crores.

Today, Daryaben is celebrated as the "Dairy Queen" of Banaskantha. She manages a massive dairy operation with more than 300 cattle, supplies nearly 1,000 litres of milk every day, and earns an annual income of around ₹1.85 crore.

A Journey That Started With a Few Animals

Daryaben's remarkable journey began at the age of 18, soon after her marriage. Like many rural women, she helped care for the family's livestock, milking animals and selling milk locally to support household expenses.


What started as a necessity gradually turned into an ambition. Refusing to settle for small earnings, she expanded her herd, improved milk production and transformed a modest dairy activity into a thriving enterprise.

300 Cattle, 14 Workers and a Crore-Rupee Business

Today, Daryaben's dairy farm is nothing short of an empire. The farm houses nearly 200 buffaloes and 100 cows, making a total of around 300 animals. To keep operations running smoothly, she employs 14 workers from nearby villages.

Her day starts before sunrise—at 3:30 am. From overseeing milk collection to managing animal care and farm operations, Daryaben remains actively involved in every aspect of the business.

The result? Around 1,000 litres of milk supplied daily and a gross monthly income estimated at nearly ₹20 lakh.

The Cooperative That Changed Lives

A key factor behind Daryaben's success has been Gujarat's Banas Dairy, one of India's largest dairy cooperatives. The network provides farmers with assured payments, technical support and access to stable markets.

Among the 4.72 lakh milk producers associated with Banas Dairy, nearly 1.68 lakh are women. Daryaben's success story highlights a growing trend in rural India—women moving beyond traditional roles to become business owners, employers and decision-makers.

From a young homemaker with a handful of cattle to a dairy entrepreneur earning crores, Daryaben Rajput's journey proves that determination, hard work and the right support system can turn even the simplest beginnings into an extraordinary success story.