NE BUSINESS BUREAU
ANAND, JUNE 2
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF) Managing Director RS Sodhi was unanimously elected to the Board of International Dairy Federation (IDF) on Tuesday.
Sodhi was elected during the IDF General Assembly on June 1 which is celebrated as “World Milk Day”..
Indian National Committee of India had nominated Sodhi’s name to the IDF which unanimously accepted it, said National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in a statement on Wednesday.
“It is an honour for me to represent the world’s largest milk producing country and contribute to promoting Sustainable Goals of dairying and also meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” the statement quoted Sodhi as saying.
Dr. Sodhi has obtained Bachelor of Engineering Degree from CTAE, Udaipur, India. After graduation, he has completed his Post-Graduation in Rural Management from Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). He was first batch alumnus of IRMA. After completion of Post-Graduation from IRMA, he has joined GCMMF (Amul) in the year 1982. Recently, he has also received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris-Causa) from Anand Agricultural University.
Dr. Sodhi has 39 years of rich experience with Amul. Dr. R S Sodhi took over as Managing Director of GCMMF (Amul) in the year 2010. Under his leadership, milk procurement price paid by Amul to farmers increased by 140%, in the last 10 years, from Rs. 337 per Kg-fat in 2009-10 to Rs. 810 per Kg-Fat in 2020-21. Through remunerative prices and technological support, Dr. R S Sodhi encouraged the farmers of Amul to increase milk procurment by 171% in the last 10 years, from 91 lakhs litres per day in 2009-10 to 250 lakhs litres per day in 2020-21 . During the same period (last ten years), under the leadership of Dr. R S Sodhi, the business turnover of GCMMF has grown by 390% from Rs. 8005 crores in 2009-10 to Rs. 39,238 crores during 2020-21.
He headed GCMMF’s widely acclaimed marketing campaigns such as (1) Promoting milk as ‘world’s original energy drink’ & (2) ‘Eat Milk’ campaign motivating Indian youth in include dairy products in every meal and (3) Amul Doodh Peeta Hai India. He has been instrumental in launching more than 200 new products during his tenure as Managing Director. He has also guided the digital/social media marketing innovations in Indian dairy industry to ensure that younger generation enhances consumption of milk and milk products. Dr Sodhi’s significant contribution to dairy cooperatives is Amul’s distribution network. This has created new employment opportunities for many. His direction has also led the brand to a remarkable success.
Under the leadership of Dr. R S Sodhi, in order to improve productivity of animal, Amul has initiated Strategic Productivity Enhancement Programme and to improve fertility of animal, Amul has initiated Fertility Improvement Programme (FIP). Under this programme a dedicated and experienced team of Veterinary doctors conducted animal camps in selected villages. Under his leadership, 36 lakhs farmers of Amul Cooperative movement, have planted 8.3 crores saplings over 14 year period, to help conserve our natural environment.
Dr Sodhi said that India’s cooperative approach constitutes an essential strategy by which millions of dairy farmers are being empowered to have a level playing field in the market and get a fair share of the value of milk. Dairying is the growth engine of our farm sector. It is not only about providing nutrition to consumers but also about ensuring sustainable livelihood for our dairy farmers. The impressive growth and self-sufficiency in the dairy sector has been made possible by the concerted efforts of the dairy farmers, Government of India, NDDB and many other stakeholders. In this context the selection of Dr Sodhi is considered to be a matter of pride for India.
IDF is an international non-governmental, non-profit association with a vision “Helping to nourish the world with safe and sustainable dairy”. IDF members are National Committees generally constituted by dairy organizations in each country. The National Committee represents its country. India is represented by the National Committee (INC) of the IDF. The Secretary (ADF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is the President of the INC-IDF and NDDB, as its Secretariat, coordinates its activities.
