Amul Green Project

GREEN GUJARAT TREE PLANTATION CAMPAIGN BY MILK PRODUCERS OF DAIRY COOPERATIVES

Amul Coops plant more than 311.98 lakhs trees

Milk Producer members of Gujarat Dairy Cooperatives- better known as AMUL have been celebrating the nation's Independence Day in a novel manner by planting lakhs of saplings across Gujarat and have taken up an ambitious plan to save the environment by planting trees, making India green and thereby reducing the effects of global warming. The milk producers of Gujarat Dairy Cooperatives are conducting mass tree plantation drive every year on Independence Day for last five years. In last five years (2007 to 2011) the milk producers have planted around 311.98 lakhs trees). The most striking feature of these entire programmes was that it has been initiated by milk producer members of the dairy cooperatives. The unique fact about the programme was that the milk producer members took up the oath to protect tree saplings till it survives and grows into tree.

Over the years, due to intensive agriculture and dairying various natural resources are getting consumed at faster pace in Gujarat state of India. The state level apex body of dairy farmers in Gujarat gave a serious thought in this direction and discovered a novel idea for giving back to nature. The idea was "one member one tree" plantation on our 60th Independence day - 15th August 2007.To put this idea in to the practice a design team constituting of representatives of member unions were formed. The team accepted the idea by heart and immediately decided to spread it among farmer members of village dairy cooperative societies. Then the idea was communicated to farmer members and they all welcomed it and enthusiastically agreed to implement the idea.

For smooth implementation of the idea, the design team chalked out the road map for various activities. Execution teams were formed at district union level to give final shape and put the plan in action. Village level coordinators were...