Introduction: Technology Enters the Cooperative Heartland
Amul has introduced an artificial intelligence–based assistant, Sarlaben, to support dairy farmers across Gujarat. The move reflects a growing shift in India’s cooperative dairy sector towards digital tools that improve efficiency, knowledge access and farm-level decision-making. Gujarat remains the backbone of India’s cooperative dairy model. However, rising costs, climate stress and animal health risks now challenge smallholder farmers. In response, cooperatives are exploring technology-led solutions to sustain productivity and farmer incomes.
What Sarlaben Offers to Dairy Farmers
Sarlaben provides real-time advisory support on animal health, feeding, breeding and basic farm management. Farmers can access guidance in local languages through digital platforms. As a result, they no longer rely only on physical extension visits. This approach helps spread standardised best practices across villages. It also improves response time during health or feeding-related issues. Over time, such support can reduce avoidable losses and improve milk output.
Strategic Importance for Amul and Cooperatives
For Amul, the initiative supports long-term milk supply stability. Better-informed farmers tend to manage animals more efficiently. This directly affects milk quality, yield consistency and procurement volumes. More importantly, the initiative expands the cooperative’s role. Beyond price support and marketing, Amul now positions itself as a knowledge partner. This strengthens farmer trust and deepens cooperative engagement.
Digital Advisory as a Climate and Inclusion Tool
Non-uniform rainfall, heat stress and disease outbreaks increasingly affect dairy animals. Digital advisory tools like Sarlaben can help farmers adapt faster. Timely guidance supports better feed planning and health management under changing climate conditions. At the same time, local-language AI tools improve inclusion. Women and smallholders gain easier access to information. This supports broader social and economic participation within the dairy ecosystem.
Limitations and the Road Ahead
Despite its potential, digital adoption still faces challenges. Digital literacy varies across regions. Trust in automated advice also develops gradually. Therefore, AI tools must complement, not replace, veterinarians and field staff. Continued training, reliable data and strong on-ground support will decide the platform’s success. If managed well, such tools can scale efficiently across cooperative networks.
Conclusion: A Step Towards Future-Ready Dairying
Sarlaben signals how legacy cooperatives are adapting to modern challenges. By combining technology with cooperative values, Amul is reshaping farmer support systems. As India’s dairy sector seeks resilience and sustainability, digital advisory platforms may become essential. Gujarat’s experiment could well set the direction for cooperative dairying nationwide.
