Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), has been awarded the esteemed 2024 Rochdale Pioneers Award by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). This global honour recognizes his remarkable contributions to advancing the cooperative movement in India and promoting the Indian Cooperative model on the world stage.
The award was presented to Awasthi by ICA President Ariel Guarco during a special ceremony at the ICA Global Conference held in New Delhi. Reflecting on this recognition, Awasthi shared his gratitude in a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I am glad and overwhelmed with the love and affection i am getting from IFFCO family and cooperators. Thanks for your wishes on Rochdale Pioneers Award.”
IFFCO also celebrated this with a post on X, calling it a proud moment for the organization and highlighting how this honour reinforces Awasthi’s exceptional contributions to fostering sustainability and growth within the cooperative sector.
Notably, Awasthi is the second Indian to receive this prestigious award, following Verghese Kurien, the visionary behind India’s White Revolution, who was honoured in 2001.
A chemical engineering graduate from Banaras Hindu University, Awasthi began his career with IFFCO in 1993 and has been a key contributor to its transformation into a global leader in fertilizer production. Throughout his impressive five-decade career, Awasthi has led IFFCO's diversification into various sectors, including general insurance, rural telephony, and retail, among others.
The Rochdale Pioneers Award, instituted in 2000 by the ICA, acknowledges individuals or organizations that have made innovative and financially sustainable contributions to the cooperative sector, significantly benefiting their communities.
