Amul salutes ‘Iron Man’ for dairy movement genesis

In a heartfelt national-campaign tribute, Amul has honoured Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — widely known as the “Iron Man of India” — for his visionary role in establishing what became India’s first village dairy cooperative in Kaira (Gujarat) during the 1940s. The full-page advertisement highlights how Patel inspired dairy farmers to unite against exploitation and helped launch the cooperative model that eventually evolved into Amul, now one of the largest farmer-owned dairy brands in the world.

Amul emphasised that his ideals of self-reliance, unity and empowerment of women dairy farmers continue to guide the cooperative’s journey — today involving over 3.6 million dairy farming families in Gujarat alone. As the cooperative movement enters its next phase, the newly established Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited (under the aegis of the Ministry of Cooperation) is being positioned as the anchor of the “White Revolution 2.0”.

Industry Insight:
This move is more than nostalgia — it reinforces the cooperative’s strategic messaging of farmer empowerment, legacy and branding strength. For dairy processors, equipment suppliers and feed/automation firms, it signals that cooperative networks remain deeply rooted in farmer ownership, heritage and social mission. Aligning with such values — especially in procurement, supply-chain integration and farmer training — can resonate strongly when offering turnkey automation, lab instrumentation, hygiene/safety gear or R&D services in the dairy sector.

Source : Dairynews7x7 Nov 4th 2025