Cooperatives and Competition
The Chanakya University School of Management Sciences hosted an enriching guest lecture by Dr. Naoto Shimokado, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business Administration, Kyoto Tachibana University, Japan. Dr. Shimokado brought a sharp academic lens to one of India’s most consequential sectors, dairy. His lecture unpacked the evolving competitive landscape of India’s dairy products market, examining how traditional cooperative structures are navigating intensifying pressure from private and multinational players. Central to the discussion was the enduring relevance of the cooperative model, exemplified by institutions like Amul, and its role in ensuring farmer welfare, price stability, and rural economic inclusion.
Drawing on comparative frameworks from Japan’s own cooperative economy, Dr. Shimokado encouraged students to think critically about market design, institutional resilience, and the delicate balance between competition and community in agri-food systems. The session concluded with a lively Q&A, with students engaging deeply on themes of policy, pricing, and cooperative governance in a liberalised market environment.
