Amul and IFFCO have secured the top two global rankings among cooperatives in the 2025 World Cooperative Monitor by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), highlighting India’s cooperative excellence.

Introduction

In a remarkable milestone for India’s cooperative sector, two of the country’s largest cooperative enterprises—Amul and IFFCO—have secured the top global spots in the 2025 World Cooperative Monitor rankings. The evaluation, conducted by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) in collaboration with the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE), recognizes the economic resilience and social impact of cooperatives across the globe.

Context & Background

The World Cooperative Monitor is an annual study that ranks cooperatives and mutuals based on turnover and GDP per capita. Now in its 13th edition, the 2025 report was unveiled at the ICA CM50 Conference in Doha, Qatar—a global event marking five decades of the ICA’s sectoral presence and dialogue.

Founded in 1895, the ICA serves as a unifying body for over one billion cooperative members worldwide. Headquartered in Brussels, it coordinates a wide-ranging network of more than 306 organizations from 105 countries across sectors as diverse as agriculture, banking, insurance, retail, housing, and industry. Notably, India was one of the founding nations of this 130-year-old alliance, reflecting the deep historical roots and commitment of the Indian cooperative movement.

Main Developments

According to the 2025 World Cooperative Monitor report, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF), popularly known as Amul, has been ranked number one globally based on its performance relative to GDP per capita. The federation’s immense contribution to India’s dairy economy and its farmer-centric business model were central to its achievement.

Following closely, the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) secured the second global position. Headquartered in New Delhi, IFFCO has been recognized for its strong cooperative participation base and sustainable practices that directly benefit millions of farmers.

Meanwhile, Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) emerged at the sixth position, further cementing India’s leadership in global cooperative enterprise. Together, these three institutions have showcased how cooperative structures can compete with and often outperform private and state-run enterprises in economic impact and social inclusivity.

“The consistent performance of these organizations highlights the strength of India’s cooperative model,” said an ICA representative during the conference. “They not only contribute to economic growth but also embody social equity and rural empowerment.”

Expert Insight and Public Reaction

Experts credit the Indian cooperative framework, particularly its democratic decision-making and farmer-centric governance, as the foundation for this international recognition.

Dr. Meera Nair, an economist specializing in cooperative economics, explained, “Amul and IFFCO have demonstrated how cooperatives can achieve scale without losing sight of community welfare. Their models have redefined rural enterprise by integrating grassroots entrepreneurship with global competitiveness.”

Across India, the announcement sparked widespread acclaim. State officials from Gujarat hailed Amul’s achievement as a tribute to the Anand model of dairy development pioneered in the 1940s. Similarly, agricultural and fertilizer cooperatives under the IFFCO network expressed collective pride, noting that such recognition reaffirms the significance of cooperative-driven growth in national economic strategy.

On social media, the news trended widely under hashtags celebrating India’s agricultural and cooperative success stories. Farmers, agricultural workers, and rural development advocates shared messages highlighting how these organizations continue to uplift millions of families through stable pricing, profit-sharing, and capacity-building initiatives.

Impact & Implications

The latest ranking positions India not just as a beneficiary but as a global leader in cooperative innovation. As many economies explore models for inclusive growth, the success of Indian cooperatives offers a real-world blueprint. Amul’s decentralized procurement system—empowering over 36 lakh milk producers across Gujarat—serves as a powerful example of self-sustaining economic ecosystems.

IFFCO’s model of cooperative agriculture inputs and its digital connectivity initiatives have similarly modernized rural farming while preserving cooperative ownership. The synergy among Amul, IFFCO, and KRIBHCO demonstrates how cooperatives can operate at global scales while maintaining local integrity.

The recognition also carries strategic implications for India’s rural development policies. With increasing global alignment toward sustainable agriculture and responsible business, cooperatives are expected to play a more prominent role in realizing the country’s developmental goals under climate transition and food security frameworks.

According to experts from EURICSE, the growing reliance on cooperatives worldwide reflects a shift toward inclusive capitalism—one where social impact and profitability coexist. India’s top rankings thus reinforce the nation’s identity as an advocate for shared prosperity through collective enterprise.

Conclusion

The 2025 World Cooperative Monitor rankings mark a proud moment for India, showcasing its strength in community-led economic governance. Amul, IFFCO, and KRIBHCO have not only achieved business excellence but also stood as testaments to the transformative power of cooperatives in shaping equitable growth.

As the global economy moves toward models balancing growth with sustainability and inclusivity, India’s cooperative institutions provide inspiration and proof that grassroots collaboration remains a potent force for developmental change.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information from the International Cooperative Alliance’s World Cooperative Monitor 2025. The content is for informational and educational purposes and does not represent any official position of the organizations mentioned.