Amul Launches its first International business in the US

Iconic Indian brand Amul will start its first international operation in the United States of America by manufacturing its product there. The Amul brand is owned by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). The tagline of Amul is  “The Taste of India”.

According to Jayen Mehta ,Managing Director Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF),Amul will launch its fresh milk product in the United States of America in partnership with the Michigan Milk Producers Association . The Michigan Milk Producers Association is one of the oldest dairy cooperatives of the United States.

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation is the largest exporter of dairy products from India.It exports its product through agents  in more than 50 countries in West Asia, Europe and the United States of America which has a large Indian diaspora.

However it will be the first time that Amul will manufacture its product outside India.

Story of Amul and White Revolution in India 

• Amul is owned by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). It is India’s largest food product marketing organisation based in Gujarat. It is the apex marketing body of Dairy cooperatives of Gujarat.  
• The genesis of Amul lies in the formation of Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited by two village dairy co-operative societies in 1946.
• The headquarters of the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited is at Anand, Gujarat . The farmers of the village founded Anand Milk Union Limited popularly known as Amul.
• Under the inspired leadership of Dr Verghese Kurien, more and more village cooperatives joined the Kaira Cooperatives and Amul grew from strength to strength.
• Inspired by the success of Amul, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri decided  that the Amul model of dairy cooperative will be replicated all over India to make India self-sufficient in milk and dairy products. 

NDDB and role of Dr Verghese Kurien 

• In 1965 the Government of India set up the National Dairy Development Board(NDDB) with the basic objective of replicating the successful Amul cooperative model. 
• Dr.  Verghese Kurien was made the Chairman of the NDDB with the mandate to replicate the successful Amul model across the country.
• NDDB under Vergehese Kurien  launched operation flood in India which has made India,largest producer of milk in the world.  
• The quantum jump in the production of milk and dairy  products is also called as white revolution.
• Verghese Kurien is called the father of white revolution in India or Milkman of India.

Milk Production In India 

In 1998, India surpassed the United States of America to become the largest milk-producing country in the world.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in 2021-22, India’s contribution to world milk production was 24%.

Milk production in the country is estimated as 230.58 million tonnes during 2022-23,a growth of 22.81% over the past 5 years.

Highest milk producing State during 2022-23 was 

• Uttar Pradesh with a share of 15.72 % of total milk production 
• Rajasthan (14.44 %), 
• Madhya Pradesh (8.73 %), 
• Gujarat (7.49 %), and 
• Andhra Pradesh (6.70 %).