Amul is an Indian dairy cooperative, based at Anand in the state of Gujarat, India.[2] The word amul (अमूल) is derived from the Sanskrit word Amulya(अमूल्य), meaning invaluable.[3] The co-operative was initially referred to as Anand Milk Federation Union Limited hence the name AMUL.
Formed in 1946, it is a brand managed by a cooperative body, the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF), which today is jointly owned by 3 million milk producers in Gujarat.[4]
Amul spurred India's White Revolution, which made the country the world's largest producer of milk and milk products.[5] In the process Amul became the largest food brand in India and has ventured into markets overseas.
Dr Verghese Kurien, founder-chairman of the GCMMF for more than 30 years (1973–2006), is credited with the success of Amul.[6
History
Amul the co-operative registered on 1 December 1946 as a response to the exploitation of marginal milk producers by traders or agents of the only existing dairy, the Polson dairy, in the small city distances to deliver milk, which often went sour in summer, to Polson. The prices of milk were arbitrarily determined. Moreover, the government had given monopoly rights to Polson to collect milk from Anand and supply it to Bombay city.[7][8]
Angered by the unfair trade practices, the farmers of Kaira approached Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel under the leadership of local farmer leader Tribhuvandas K. Patel. He advised them to form acooperative and supply milk directly to the Bombay Milk Scheme instead of Polson (who did the same but gave them low prices).[9] He sent Morarji Desai to organise the farmers. In 1946, the milk farmers of the area went on a strike which led to the setting up of the cooperative to collect and process milk.[8] Milk collection was decentralized, as most producers were marginal farmers who could deliver, at most, 1–2 litres of