Jayen Mehta elected chairman of new SPCDF

Vadodara: A newly formed multi-state cooperative federation aimed at strengthening India’s dairy cooperative network has elected its first set of office-bearers, with Jayen Mehta being unanimously chosen as chairman of the Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited (SPCDF).

Dr Mehta, who is also the Managing Director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (Amul), was elected during the office-bearers’ election held at AmulFed Dairy in Gandhinagar.

His name was proposed by Ashok Chaudhary and seconded by Shabesinh Parmar.

Sangram Chaudhary, representing the Banaskantha District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited, was elected vice-chairman of the federation.

Officials said the elections were held on May 5 and the results were formally declared on Friday by Ravindra D Khatale, who served as the returning officer appointed by the Cooperative Election Authority under the ministry of cooperation.

As per the SPCDF bylaws, both office-bearers will serve a five-year term beginning May 5, 2026.

The SPCDF board comprises one representative each from GCMMF and its 10 member unions, along with three representatives from cooperative milk societies in Assam, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

SPCDF was inaugurated by Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah on July 6, 2025, with the aim of strengthening the cooperative dairy movement across the country.

The federation seeks to connect over 20 lakh dairy farmers from more than 20,000 villages across 20 states to an organised cooperative structure beyond Gujarat. The initiative aims to ensure fair milk pricing, equitable voting rights, access to modern services and the benefits of a democratically governed cooperative system.

The newly elected office-bearers expressed gratitude to the ministry of cooperation, the Gujarat govt and the boards of GCMMF and SPCDF for reposing faith in them.