Amul’s AI ‘Sarlaben’ empowers 3.6 mn dairy farmers across Gujarat

In a landmark blend of technology and grassroots transformation, Gujarat’s dairy sector is undergoing a quiet revolution powered by artificial intelligence. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday highlighted the impact of Amul’s AI-driven platform, calling it a breakthrough in strengthening rural livelihoods and empowering dairy farmers — particularly women — across the state.At the heart of this transformation is ‘Sarlaben’, an AI assistant developed by Amul, which leverages an extraordinary 200 crore (2 billion) data records to deliver real-time insights into cattle health, milk productivity and disease detection. The platform currently serves the world’s largest dairy cooperative network, covering 3.6 million farmers, nearly 40 million cattle, and processing around 2 billion milk transactions annually.
Describing the initiative as a “game-changer,” Patel said technology becomes truly powerful when it speaks the language of the people. In a post on X, he noted that the AI platform has transformed animal husbandry by equipping farmers with predictive alerts, productivity analytics and timely medical interventions.“Amul’s AI assistant ‘Sarlaben’ is a game-changer for our cattle owners, providing real-time insights on animal health and productivity. By integrating technology into animal husbandry, we are ensuring our dairy farmers — especially our hardworking women — have the best tools to succeed,” the Chief Minister wrote.CM added that the platform stands as a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a tech-enabled rural India, where innovation directly improves lives at the grassroots level.
The initiative also drew praise from Nandan Nilekani, who lauded the speed and scale at which AI is being deployed in India. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Nilekani described the summit as “fantastic” and highlighted how AI in India is rapidly moving beyond pilot projects to large-scale implementation.He recalled that during discussions on expanding AI applications for farmers, Prime Minister Modi suggested extending the technology to dairy and cattle management — noting that animals cannot communicate illness, making early detection crucial.According to Nilekani, within weeks of that conversation, coordinated efforts between the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Amul, and technology experts led to the rollout of the AI platform.“This is an example of AI diffusion at scale,” Nilekani said, adding that India is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can improve the lives of farmers, students, patients and workers alike.
Empowering Women, Strengthening Rural India
For Gujarat’s dairy farmers — many of them women managing cattle and household milk operations — Sarlaben provides a digital ally. By offering data-backed guidance in local languages, the AI assistant helps reduce livestock losses, enhance milk yields and increase incomes.The integration of artificial intelligence into cooperative dairy networks reflects a broader national push toward inclusive innovation, where technology does not remain confined to urban centres but penetrates deeply into rural economies.
With its scale, speed and social impact, Amul’s AI initiative is emerging as a global case study in cooperative-led digital transformation. Industry observers note that few countries have demonstrated such rapid deployment of AI solutions across millions of small farmers.As Gujarat’s dairy backbone becomes smarter and more resilient, Sarlaben may well represent the next chapter of India’s digital story — one where algorithms work hand-in-hand with cattle owners in villages, turning data into prosperity.

(State Correspondent)