India announces new dairy federation aimed at unifying farmers

Dubai: India’s newest dairy federation was recently unveiled by Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah. The new initiative, dubbed the Sardar Patel Co-operative Dairy Federation (SPCDF) Limited, is aimed at expanding the country’s dairy outputs and benefiting local farmers nationwide.

The announcement was unveiled at the celebration of the fourth foundation day of India’s Ministry of Cooperation, held in Anand, Gujarat on July 6.

Here’s what you need to know about the new project.

The event was overseen by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF), which owns one of India’s most well-known dairy brands Amul.

When speaking on the targets of this new initiative, the Amul brand said: “As part of the celebration, Amul announced the launch of new Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation (SPCDF) Limited which will unify village-level dairy cooperatives across India under a multi-state model — envisioned to spark the Second White Revolution,” according to a statement on the company’s Instagram.

Alongside the announcement of the new federation, Shah also unveiled a new expansion of Amul’s chocolate plant. The cost of the plant is near Rs1.05 billion and it is based at the Tribhuvandas Food Complex.

Shah outlined some of the different criteria the new federation aims to address. “Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation will work to complete a cycle of organised market, input services, fair purchase of milk, difference in price and circular economy in the dairy sector,” he said.

A new similar initiative was also created for salt labourers at this event, called The Kutch District Salt Cooperative Society.

As the event was also commemorating the 2025 United Nations’ theme of International Year of Cooperatives, Shah stressed the importance of how long-standing cooperation within the government has paved the way for initiatives to be successful.

“We have to implement three things, transparency, acceptance of technology, and bringing the members of cooperative institutions at the centre, in this International Year of Cooperatives,” said Shah.

He also focused on the impacts of local cooperation, while acknowledging support from Prime Minister Modi, saying: “From milk to banking, sugar mills to marketing and cash credit to digital payments, today co-operative societies are contributing to the economic development of the country with full potential.”