OMFED Launches Micro-ATM Initiative Across Milk Cooperative Societies in Odisha

Dairy farmers in Odisha will soon be able to access banking services without leaving their villages, with the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED) beginning the distribution of micro-ATMs across milk cooperative societies. The initiative is aimed at strengthening financial inclusion by bringing banking facilities directly to cooperative centres where farmers already conduct their daily transactions.

In the first phase, 55 milk cooperative societies have been equipped with the devices with assistance from the Odisha State Cooperative Bank. Of these, 35 societies are located in Cuttack district, while the remaining 20 are in Sambalpur, according to media reports.

As reported by The New Indian Express, OMFED Managing Director Vijay Amruta Kulange said the micro-ATMs would allow dairy farmers to withdraw payments received for milk procurement and carry out other banking transactions at their respective cooperative societies. The facility is expected to spare farmers from travelling long distances to access banking services, making financial transactions quicker and more convenient.

The federation believes the move will improve the availability of secure and transparent banking services at the grassroots level while reducing the logistical burden on dairy producers. By integrating financial services with milk cooperative societies, the initiative is also expected to support farmers during the monsoon season, when travel often becomes more difficult.

Beyond improving access to banking, the rollout is intended to reinforce Odisha’s cooperative dairy network by making routine financial transactions easier for milk producers and strengthening the overall cooperative ecosystem in the state.