Cooperative sugar factories in Maharashtrara

Sugar production is the primary business among farmers of the western Maharashtra region. The cooperative movement for the sugar industry started in the 1960s in Maharashtra with the announcement of 12 places in the state where sugar factories could be established. The Bombay state government announced a capital share of one million rupees to establish sugar factories at these potential 12 places. A central committee was formed by Bombay State Cooperative Bank under the chairmanship of Dhananjayrao Gadgil.^[1]

History

Sugarcane weighing at a Cooperative Sugar mill in Maharashtra, India.

Inception of Asia's first cooperative sugar factory^[2] took place at Pravaranagar in the Ahemadnagar district of Maharashtra in 1950, led by Vithalrao Vikhe Patil and Dhananjayrao Gadgil. They started a factory called Pravara Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd with the capital share of local farmers.

Present scenario

At present there are 173 cooperative sugar factories^[3] in operation, employing 165,000 people. Almost 800,000 people are engaged in the harvesting and transportation of sugarcane to factories from the fields. The sugar industry provides annual revenue of over ₹22 billion to the government. Due to the cooperative sugar industry, allied businesses including milk cooperatives, fertilizer supply, and irrigation systems have flourished. The presence of this industry has led to development of rural places, from which the sugarcane is drawn to factories, including an improved road network, transportation facilities, medical facilities, education facilities, and banking.

References