Anand (Gujarat), Feb 11 (NationPress) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated on Wednesday that the latest trade agreements between India and the United States and the European Union are poised to enhance the domestic dairy industry while safeguarding millions of small and marginal farmers. During the unveiling of 'Amul AI', an artificial intelligence-driven initiative for the dairy sector, he mentioned that these agreements exclude dairy product imports, thus securing the livelihoods of more than 10 crore milk producers.

“The Prime Minister’s choice to exclude dairy from free trade agreements will protect small farmers and livestock owners. This will facilitate the growth of India’s dairy sector and support its ambition to become a global dairy hub,” Patel remarked.

The launch event in Anand signifies the commencement of a new technological and digital era for the cooperative dairy sector.

Amul, celebrated as a premier cooperative entity worldwide, unites 36 lakh milk producers across over 18,500 villages in Gujarat.

The Amul AI platform consolidates data from farmers, cooperative members, and the broader dairy ecosystem into an advanced IT framework, fostering intelligent decision-making and modernizing agriculture, animal husbandry, and dairy management.

Patel pointed out provisions in the current Union Budget, including specific allocations to train 20,000 veterinary professionals and bolster the dairy framework.

He also underscored the Prime Minister’s vision for technology-enhanced growth, citing the extensive use of UPI digital payments as a prime example, which has evolved from small vendors to large traders.

The Chief Minister asserted that the AI platform will further reinforce the cooperative network and support the “Advantage India” initiative by merging advanced technology with traditional dairy practices.

Gujarat Assembly Speaker and Banas Dairy Chairman Shankar Chaudhary noted Anand's historical significance as the birthplace and karmabhoomi of Tribhuvandas Patel, the architect of the White Revolution, and Dr. Verghese Kurien.

He introduced the newly launched ‘Sarala’ app as a global first, which allows users to check milk fat, SNF (Solids-Not-Fat), and daily accounts via mobile.

“I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his steadfastness against international pressure to defend Indian livestock owners and the domestic dairy sector,” he mentioned.

He added, “Had foreign milk entered the Indian market, it would have negatively impacted millions of livestock farmers. However, the Prime Minister ensured the protection of Indian livestock owners by keeping dairy products out of free trade agreements.”

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Jitu Vaghani termed the launch of Amul AI as a historic milestone, indicating that the platform is on its way to becoming the largest AI application in the global dairy realm.

He stated it would provide rural producers with access to cutting-edge technology and enhance the efficiency and earnings of milk producers.

“Approximately 94 percent of payments are now directly transferred into the bank accounts of women livestock owners, serving as a testament to economic empowerment,” Vaghani observed.