Amul's AI Assistant Sarlaben Brings Digital Transformation to Gujarat's Dairy Sector
Amul, a major player in India's dairy industry, has introduced an artificial intelligence–based assistant called Sarlaben to support dairy farmers throughout Gujarat. This initiative marks a significant step towards integrating digital tools within the traditional cooperative dairy framework of the region.
Sarlaben provides real-time advisory services covering animal health, feeding, breeding, and basic farm management. Farmers can access these advisory services in local languages via digital platforms, reducing reliance on physical extension visits. This technology helps spread standardized best practices across villages and improves response times to health or feeding-related issues.
For Amul, this move is strategic in ensuring long-term milk supply stability. Better-informed farmers are likely to manage their animals more efficiently, which in turn affects milk quality, yield consistency, and procurement volumes. This initiative positions Amul not just as a buyer but as a knowledge partner, thereby strengthening trust and engagement with the cooperative members.
Climate change poses significant challenges to dairy farming, with non-uniform rainfall, heat stress, and disease outbreaks affecting animals. Digital tools like Sarlaben can assist farmers in adapting more quickly to such challenges through timely feed planning and health management advice. Additionally, the accessibility of these tools in local languages enhances inclusion, particularly benefiting women and smallholder farmers.
Despite the potential benefits, there are challenges to digital adoption, including varying levels of digital literacy and trust in automated advice. Therefore, Sarlaben is intended to complement, not replace, traditional advisors like veterinarians and field staff. The success of this platform will depend on continued training, reliable data, and robust on-ground support.
Sarlaben represents a significant adaptation of legacy cooperatives to modern challenges and could set a precedent for the role of digital advisory platforms in India's dairy sector.
