MilkIT innovation platform: Changing women’s lives – one cow and one litre of milk at a time – deep in the foothills of India’s Himalayan Mountains

This is a chapter of the book Innovation Platforms for Agricultural Development edited by Iddo Dror, Jean-Joseph Cadilhon, Marc Schut, Michael Misiko and Shreya Maheshwari. The chapter introduces the background of MilkIT innovation platform (IP), how to ground IPs, constraints, achievements and solutions to challenges, and the impact of IPs and provides recommendations for the future. MilkIT IPs have led to rapid adoption of feed improvement practices, increased milk production, stronger milk sales, and have facilitated increased incomes for more than 600 households, improved collaboration among the local development institutions, provided employment for many women and changed the mindset of various development policy makers.