The announcement of IFFCO Managing Director Dr. U.S. Awasthi receiving the prestigious 2024 Rochdale Pioneers Award by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) ignited a flood of celebratory messages across social media platforms.
Members of the IFFCO family enthusiastically shared their joy through heartfelt posts on Facebook and Twitter, while numerous others from the global cooperative community joined in to honor a man revered for his transformative contributions to the cooperative movement.
Dr. Awasthi was conferred the award during a grand ceremony at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on November 25, 2024, as part of the ongoing ICA Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly. ICA President Ariel Guarco presented the accolade, recognizing Dr. Awasthi’s exceptional work in pioneering innovative and sustainable cooperative practices.
The Rochdale Pioneers Award, established in 2000, is the ICA’s highest honor, celebrating individuals or organizations that significantly impact cooperative progress. Dr. Awasthi is only the second Indian to receive this prestigious award, after Dr. Verghese Kurien, the legendary “Father of the White Revolution,” who was honored in 2001.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Awasthi expressed deep gratitude, stating: “I am humbled and honored to
receive this prestigious award from the ICA. This achievement reflects the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ initiative and the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah. It underscores IFFCO’s commitment to advancing the cooperative movement and promoting sustainable agricultural practices on a global scale. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the ICA and the global cooperative community for this recognition, which inspires us to uphold and advance the cooperative spirit worldwide.”
The ongoing conference, hosted by IFFCO in collaboration with India’s Union Ministry of Cooperation, will continue at Bharat Mandapam until November 30, 2024, showcasing India’s leadership in the global cooperative sector.
