Uttar Pradesh’s Cow Urine Purchase Scheme Raises Questions Over Preparation and Long-Term Viability

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a pilot project in 15 villages of Bulandshahr under which cow urine is being purchased from farmers and livestock owners at ₹10 per litre. Around 500 litres are reportedly being collected every day from the participating villages.

The government plans to use the collected cow urine along with herbs to produce organic agricultural products and medicines. As part of the initiative, around 300 women will reportedly be made shareholders and will receive a commission of ₹2 per litre. If the pilot project proves successful, the scheme could be expanded across Uttar Pradesh, with the purchase price potentially increased to ₹20 per litre.

The initiative has been presented as a way to promote cow protection while creating an additional source of income for rural communities and supporting organic farming. However, questions are being raised about whether the project has the infrastructure and long-term framework required to make it sustainable.

Similar initiatives have been attempted in other parts of India. Chhattisgarh began purchasing cow urine at ₹4 per litre in 2022, while Gujarat’s Banas Dairy also introduced a procurement programme at ₹5 per litre. Efforts have also been made in several regions to develop products based on Panchgavya. However, many such initiatives remained limited in scale due to challenges involving collection, storage, quality control, processing and market demand.

Fresh cow urine can be difficult to store, particularly during hot weather, making timely collection, transportation and processing crucial. For the Uttar Pradesh project to succeed, experts and stakeholders would need to address issues such as village-level collection centres, hygienic storage, transportation, quality standards and testing facilities.

The initiative could also require collaboration with private companies, Ayurvedic manufacturers and research institutions to establish scientifically tested products and develop reliable markets. Without adequate demand and a functioning supply chain, government procurement could become difficult to sustain over the long term.

The plan to involve women as shareholders is being viewed as a positive step towards creating rural economic opportunities. However, training, infrastructure and access to markets would also be important to ensure that their participation translates into sustainable income.

The experience of similar schemes suggests that announcing a procurement programme may be only the first step. For Uttar Pradesh’s pilot project to become a successful long-term model, effective collection, processing, quality control, marketing and distribution systems will be crucial.

Ultimately, the success of the scheme will depend not only on its objectives but also on how effectively the government addresses the practical challenges involved in turning cow urine into commercially viable agricultural and other products.

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