GCMMF, which markets milk and dairy products brand Amul, has been conferred with CNN-IBN “Innovating for a better tomorrow” Award for its innovation and contribution to nation-building and its role in creating a socio-economic revolution in rural India. R S Sodhi, Managing Director, GCMMF received the award in a recent ceremony held at Delhi.
“Innovating for a better tomorrow” award was instituted by Network 18, CNN-IBN & CNBC TV18 to honour innovations that have not only transformed the lives of millions of Indians but have also left their mark globally.
Accepting the award on behalf of GCMMF, R S Sodhi stated that the award was a recognition of the wisdom and efforts of dairy farmers of Gujarat who have created the innovative Amul model, enabling India to become the largest milk producing nation in the world. Inspired by the visionary foresight of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Amul cooperative model has enabled farmers to control the entire value chain of dairy business, from milk production, processing, manufacturing as well as marketing.
He further added “Right since its inception in 1946, Amul model itself was a unique innovation, wherein the instruments of development have been placed in the hands of the people themselves. One of the most innovative features of Amul is its vast supply chain network which functions with clock-work precision and handles more than 7 million transactions every day, linking 32 lakh farmers with millions of consumers spread across the nation and the world. Pioneering technological innovations such as manufacturing milk powder and cheese out of buffalo milk and marketing innovations such as its iconic topical campaign, which has been running continuously for more than 30 years, have helped Amul to achieve success. Former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri inspired Dr. Vergehese Kurien to replicate Amul model in a highly innovative program called ‘Operation Flood’, which helped India achieve self-sufficiency in milk and become the largest milk producing nation in the world.”
Sodhi also mentioned that the award revalidated his team’s belief in integrity, honesty, courage, dedication, commitment to farmers and to consumers.
