How a farmer’s Milk ATM transformed rural Maharashtra

May 28, 2025 Innovation Valli Sarvani

In a quiet corner of Mahagaon town in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, a unique innovation has transformed how people buy milk.

On Diwali morning in 2022, a smart-card-operated milk ATM appeared in the local market, the first of its kind in the entire Vidarbha region.

Behind this quiet revolution was Sunil Kolpe, a farmer who turned adversity into enterprise.

Faced with declining crop yields and unsustainable soil conditions, Kolpe shifted his focus from farming to dairy.

But rather than follow traditional routes, he chose a tech-driven, customer-first approach.

Frustrated with late payments from private milk buyers, he invested in his own dairy infrastructure and then went a step further.

Inspired by similar installations in Pune and Nashik, Kolpe purchased a 150-litre refrigerated milk dispenser for ₹2.5 lakh and installed it in Mahagaon.

The machine maintains a temperature of 4°C and accepts smart cards, QR code payments, and cash.

Customers bring their own containers, draw milk as needed, and pay on the spot. It’s simple, clean, and efficient.

The milk ATM now serves around 200–250 customers daily. Many use rechargeable smart cards, making the process even smoother.

Kolpe’s operation has grown from 10 litres to over 350 litres per day, thanks largely to this one innovation.

But he didn’t stop there. Kolpe expanded into value-added dairy products like paneer, curd, ghee, and buttermilk.

He also opened a small ice cream parlour beside the ATM, creating an evening hub and a new revenue stream.

What sets Kolpe apart is not just his hard work but his vision. According to industry experts, he is the first independent farmer in Maharashtra to own and operate such a milk dispensing machine.

His model, built on quality, technology, and trust, is reshaping how rural India sees dairy entrepreneurship.

Sunil Kolpe’s milk ATM is more than just a vending machine; it’s a symbol of rural innovation, showing how one idea can transform livelihoods and create lasting change.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on July 22, 2020