Significance & development of co-operative sugar factories-

India is the second largest producer of sugar over the globe, with more than 45 millions
of sugar cane growers in the country. The bulk of the rural population in India depends
on this industry. The sugar industry is the second largest agricultural industry, followed after
or by the textile industry. Sugar industry in India is well maintained and is growing at a steady
pace, boosting up a consumer base of over all billions of people. The sugar industry is the
second largest agro based industry in India as well as in Maharashtra also. The sugar industry
provides direct employment near about to 5 lack peoples. The sugar industry in Maharashtra
has been a local point for socio-economic development in the rural areas by mobilizing rural
resources, transport and communication facilities; further, many sugar factories have
established schools, colleges, medical centers, hospitals, engineering and poly technique
college for the benefit of the rural population. Sugar cane is an important commercial crop in
the state. Sugar cane is the primary raw material for all major sweeteners produced in the
state. It also supports two important cottage industries i.e. Jaggery and Khandsari industries.
Sugar industry produces certain by products. The important by products are molasses,
biogases, which is used for production of chemicals and alcohol. Biogases is utilized as a fuel
in the boilers and also used as a raw material in the paper industry, presumed also mixed with
another residual output of the distillery viz. spent wash and used as biomanure. A sugar mill
can thus have multiple streams of revenue. Maharashtra sugar industry is one of the most
notable and large scale sugar manufacturing sector in the country. The Maharashtra sugar
industry has been contributing nearly 40% of India’s, total sugar production the pace of
growth of sugar manufacturing has been massive over the past few years. The latest sugar
statistics of sugar production in Maharashtra indicates that this state is doing better than the
other states in the country. The sugar industry in Maharashtra is highly popular in the co-
operative sector, as farmers own a portion in the sugar factories. These co-operative sugar
factories are backbone of the sugar industry of Maharashtra. The Maharashtra sugar industry
has been a spectacular growth owing to the different conductive in the state. One of the chief
crops manufactured in Maharashtra is sugarcane with most of sugar industries been setup
over the years.
 History of Sugar Industry in Maharashtra-

British government started first sugar factory in 1919 at Haregaon in Ahmednagar

district of Maharashtra. Then R.N.Hiremath and G.N. Sahsatrabudhe introduced concept
of establishment of co-operative sugar factories in 1912. First sugar factory in
cooperative sector is established in 1918 in the name of ‘The Neera Vally Co-operative
Sugar Factory’ at Baramati in Pune district. But it closed nearly. During the period of
1933 to 1934 six new factories are established. Untill 1941, 12 sugar factories were in
existence in Maharashtra. In 1950, Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil started Pravara Co-operative
Sugar Factory at Loni in Ahmednagar district. It is a milestone of development of
Cooprative sugar industry in Maharashtra. There are 201 installed sugar factories (2009-
2010) in the state but out of them 141 factories are in operation with production of sugar
59.95MTs.

Sugar Factories in Kolhapur & Sangli Districts -

Agriculture is a basic activity of our country, In Indian agriculture sugar cane has
become an important cash crop for the farmers. India has made good progress in the
production of sugar cane and has turned out the largest sugar producing country in
the world. Sugar industry is the second largest agro based industry in the country,
next to cotton textiles. The important feature of the sugar industry is that, the cotton
textile industry is mostly located in urban areas but the sugar industry is located in
rural areas. It gives direct employment to 3 to 5 lakh workers and generates
additional employment through allied activities. Sugar industry is the single largest
employer in the rural areas.. Cooperative sugar factory sector produces more than
60 per cent of the total sugar production in India. Out of total co-operative sugar
factories, registered factories are 199 out of that 142 factories are working in
Maharashtra. Sugarcane requires processing for consumption. T industry uses
agro-based input for processing. This industry plays a very vital role in the
development of agriculture, agro industry and other industries. Sugar industry is
working as a domestic industry and it helps various other industries. It is working as
a bridge between rural and urban economy. Sugar industry in this region has acted
as growth centers. The industry has contributed to the all round development of the
region by way of construction of roads, establishment of cooperative departmental
stores, co-operative banks, educational institutions, hospitals, libraries, gymnasiums
and sport activities, etc. Sugar industry creates direct as well as indirect
employment opportunities in the region. Most important contribution of the sugar
industry is that it brings attitude change among the rural people. Due to sugar
industry people get to adopt new techniques of farming, irrigation, cultivation and
harvesting. Farmers have become quality conscious and they have increased
productivity of cane cultivation. . As noted earlier, today there are 18 sugar co-operatives
in the district.The Sangli district is a part of the Western Maharashtra which is well known
for sugar industry. On the basis of sugar recovery percentage, the state of Maharashtra is
divided into three zones viz. Southern zone, Central zone and North East zone. The Sangli
district is included in the Southern zone i.e. high recovery zone of Maharashtra. There are
eight sugar factories in the district and all of them are in the cooperative sector. The Shetkari
Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd, Madhavnagar, Taluka Miraj (now renamed as Vasantdada
Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd.) is the oldest sugar factory in the district; whereas
Tasgaon Taluka Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. Tasgaon is the newest sugar factory in
the district (1991-92 is its first regular crushing season and so in the fourth chapter this
factory has not been covered). Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. established in
1956-57; which started sugarcane crushing in 1958-59 laid the foundation of sugar industry
in the district. At that time there was no adequate availability of sugarcane in the nearby
areas. So, this factory was sarcastically called as sugar factory without sugarcane'. But the
efforts of chief promoter of the factory Late Mr. Vasantdada Patil and others brought about
the development of the factory as well as of the nearby areas. Irrigation schemes and
facilities increased the acreage under sugarcane and also the number of sugar factories in the
district. As noted earlier, today there are 15 sugar co-operatives in the district.