IFFCO, one of India’s leading cooperative organisations, commenced its Diamond Jubilee Year on November 3, 2026, marking 60 years of its contribution to the cooperative movement, fertiliser production, agricultural innovation and farmers’ prosperity.
Established on November 3, 1967, with just 57 cooperative member societies, the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has grown into a globally recognised name in the fertiliser industry. The organisation will celebrate its 60-year journey through 60 special programmes across the country, focusing on farmers’ welfare, cooperative development, technological innovation and rural empowerment.
One of the most significant initiatives announced on the occasion is the installation of statues of IFFCO’s founder and first Chairman, Maharajkumar Sahib Udaybhansinhji Natwarsinhji Jethwa (1910–1977), at all its manufacturing units and the head office in New Delhi.
The initiative is intended to honour the visionary leader whose foresight and commitment laid the foundation of IFFCO in 1967. The statues will serve as a lasting reminder of his contribution and inspire future generations to uphold the values of cooperation and farmer service.
IFFCO’s industrial journey began with the establishment of its Kalol manufacturing unit near Ahmedabad in 1975, followed by Kandla in 1976, Phulpur in 1981 and Aonla in 1988. In another landmark development, IFFCO became the first cooperative organisation in India to acquire a private-sector enterprise in 2005.
The organisation also highlighted its pioneering role in the Nano Fertiliser revolution. It developed indigenous Nano Fertilisers in 2019 and began field trials under the guidance of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Nano Urea was launched for nationwide distribution in 2021. In May 2022, the Prime Minister dedicated India’s first Nano Urea manufacturing plant at IFFCO’s Kalol unit to the nation. In 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dedicated India’s first Nano DAP manufacturing plant, also at Kalol.
Speaking on the occasion, IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani described the Diamond Jubilee as a defining moment in the organisation’s journey of service to farmers and the cooperative movement.
He said IFFCO was strengthening grassroots cooperatives, empowering rural communities and promoting sustainable agriculture. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India, the organisation was also supporting women entrepreneurship, capacity building, rural livelihoods, Drone Didi initiatives and Nano Fertiliser awareness programmes, contributing to the larger mission of Lakhpati Didis.
IFFCO Managing Director K.J. Patel said that despite challenges in the global energy and fertiliser sectors, all production units were operating with a continued focus on reliability, efficiency and optimum capacity utilisation to ensure uninterrupted fertiliser availability to farmers.
He added that IFFCO was working with the Government of India and other stakeholders to ensure timely production, distribution and availability of fertilisers across the country.
As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, IFFCO has planned 60 landmark programmes, including farmer conventions, cooperative development initiatives, training workshops, awareness campaigns and community outreach activities.
Its Board of Directors and senior leadership will also lead nationwide outreach, organising 60 Farmers’ Meets and cooperative strengthening programmes to interact directly with farmers and cooperative societies. These gatherings will focus on modern farming practices, Nano Fertilisers, sustainable agriculture, digital services and cooperative development.
The occasion also provided an opportunity to felicitate Dileep Sanghani on his election as Director-at-Large of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the global apex body of cooperatives.
With the Diamond Jubilee Year, IFFCO has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the cooperative movement, promoting agricultural innovation and contributing to a prosperous and self-reliant India.
