Amul vs America – A Dairy Battle Begins
India’s Amul strongly opposed U.S. pressure to open its dairy market, protecting 80 million farmers and cultural values.
Every morning, crores of Indians drink a glass of milk. That milk supports more than 80 million farmers and is part of the world’s largest dairy industry—India’s own.
One of the biggest names in this journey is Amul, which started in 1946 in Gujarat during a farmer protest. Back then, milk producers were unhappy with unfair payments. With support from leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Tribhuvandas Patel, and with the help of Dr. Verghese Kurien, Amul became a powerful cooperative where farmers could sell milk directly.
Today, Amul supports over 3.6 million farmers and processes more than 26 million litres of milk every day. It’s the 8th largest milk processor in the world, with ?11 billion in annual sales.
But now, there’s pressure from the United States, which exports dairy worth $8.2 billion every year. In trade talks, the U.S. asked India to open its dairy market. India said no—to protect small farmers who often own just two or three cows.
Amul’s Managing Director Jayen Mehta said, “They want to dump their surplus in India. We cannot allow cheap dairy to destroy our villages.”
India kept dairy outside trade deals, even when pressured by leaders like Donald Trump, to ensure food security and farmer protection.
While defending Indian farmers at home, Amul is growing abroad. It has started selling fresh milk in Spain, in partnership with Spanish dairy co-op COVAP. Amul milk is now available in Madrid and Barcelona, and will soon reach Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and other countries.
This shows India’s strength—protecting farmers at home, and proudly entering global markets. Experts say instead of pushing cheap imports, the U.S. should follow Europe’s way—invest locally and respect local values.
Other Indian dairy companies are also standing strong. OMFED in Odisha, Nandini in Karnataka, Verka in Punjab, and Mymul in Mysuru are supporting farmers and refusing foreign competition.
For India, this fight is not just about milk. It’s about rural jobs, Indian culture, and self-reliance. And as Amul grows globally, it proves that India can protect its roots and still rise on the world stage.
