Farmers First, Always: How Arna’s Local Network Is Weathering Climate Change and Dairy Disruption
In Karnataka’s lush heartlands, dawn breaks early. Farmers set out to milk their cattle long before the sun rises, guided by rhythms that have defined rural life for generations. But today, these rhythms face new challenges — unpredictable weather, rising feed costs, and volatile milk prices are testing the strength of India’s dairy ecosystem.
At the center of this evolving landscape stands Arna Dairy, a Bengaluru-based brand with an 85-year-old legacy, rooted in fairness and community. Long before sustainability became a buzzword, Arna built its identity around one principle: farmers first, always.
A Legacy Rooted in Trust
Arna’s journey began in 1940, when Pankaj Dairy was founded in Cox Town by Mr. N. Rajanna, a visionary who believed that dairy should empower both families and farmers. Decades later, under the leadership of fourth-generation entrepreneur Dheeraj Keshav, that philosophy continues to define Arna’s approach to growth and responsibility.
From its humble beginnings, Arna has evolved into one of Karnataka’s most respected dairy networks — a collective of over 17,000 farmers spread across Hassan, Chikmagaluru, and Shivamogga. Together, they contribute more than 1.35 lakh litres of milk every day, forming the backbone of a system that keeps purity flowing from farm to home.
Building Resilience in Uncertain Times
Dairy farming is deeply dependent on climate and stability — two things increasingly under threat. Erratic rainfall patterns affect fodder production; heat stress impacts cattle health and milk yield; and shifting market demands put pressure on pricing.
Arna’s response to these challenges is both scientific and humane. The brand’s farmer-first model blends traditional know-how with modern support systems to ensure long-term resilience.
Farmers in Arna’s network receive:
- Veterinary and nutritional support to maintain cattle
- Feed and fodder guidance tailored to local climatic shifts.
- Insurance and welfare coverage that cushions them against income shocks.
- Access to cold-chain infrastructure that preserves milk quality, ensuring every drop retains its freshness and nutritional value.
Beyond logistics, Arna invests in trust and transparency — ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation, timely payments, and ongoing training in sustainable practices.
Health Begins at the Farm
Every litre of Arna milk undergoes rigorous testing for all key quality parameters — including taste, flavour, milk acidity, antibiotics, adulterants, SNF and fat — to guarantee that consumers receive untainted, wholesome nutrition.
“This rigorous quality protocol ensures families receive not just milk, but natural nourishment they can trust,” says Dheeraj Keshav, Director, Arna Dairy. “Our purpose is simple — to make pure nutrition accessible to every home. For us, health begins at the farm.”
That belief — that good food starts with good farming — drives Arna’s long-term vision. The company’s ongoing investments in farmer training, milk testing facilities, and climate-resilient practices are designed to strengthen the entire ecosystem, not just its products.
Technology Meets Tradition
In a sector often divided between large-scale industrialization and smallholder struggles, Arna occupies a thoughtful middle ground. The company has introduced advanced milk testing systems, data-based collection centers, and cold storage technology — not to replace traditional practices, but to enhance them.
By digitizing milk collection and tracking, Arna ensures traceability from cow to consumer, minimizing wastage and protecting farmers from quality-related rejections. The result is a supply chain that is as transparent as it is efficient — and one that puts farmers at the center of progress, not the sidelines.
A Model of Stability in a Volatile Sector
For many of Arna’s partner farmers, the relationship goes beyond economics — it’s generational. Families who began supplying milk decades ago continue to do so today, their children inheriting both the cattle and the connection.
This continuity is rare in an industry known for churn. But for Arna, it’s proof that resilience is built not by scale alone, but by sincerity, shared growth, and human connection.
As India’s dairy industry evolves to meet the demands of modern consumers and changing climates, Arna stands as a reminder that progress need not come at the cost of people. It can — and must — grow from them.
The Future of Dairy Is Human
Arna Dairy’s model shows that sustainability in food doesn’t start in boardrooms — it starts on farms, in conversations, and in communities that believe in doing right by one another.
In the years ahead, as the company continues to innovate and expand, its north star remains unchanged: to honour the bond between the farmer and the family — and protect it for generations to come.
Because for Arna, purity isn’t just a product promise. It’s a partnership — one that begins, and always will, at the farm.
Contact Arna Dairy
📍 Registered Office: SY NO-80/3, Kyalasanahalli , Hennur Airport Road, Bangalore, Karnataka – 560077, India
📧 Email: info@arnadairy.in
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