Cooperative sugar factories in Maharashtra

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.

Asia's first cooperative sugar factory[2] was established at Pravaranagar in the Ahmednagar District of the then Bombay state in 1950 by Vithalrao Vikhe Patil and economist Dhananjayrao Gadgil. They factory called Pravara]] Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd had majority ownership by the local farmers

Present scenario

At present there are 173 cooperative sugar factories[3] in operation. 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.[4] Over the last sixty years, the local sugar mills have played a crucial part in encouraging rural political participation and as a stepping stone for aspiring politicians.[5] In Maharashtra there is a large number of politicians belonging to the Congress party or NCP with ties to sugar cooperatives from their respective local areas.[6] Unfortunately, mismanagement and manipulation of the cooperative principles has made a number of these operations inefficient.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "www.pgspcf.org" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation. "Inspiration – Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation". Pdvvpfa.org. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  3. ↑ "Maharashtra State Co-Operative Sugar Factories Federation Ltd.: Member Factories". Mahasugarfed.org. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  4. ↑ "National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited". Coopsugar.org. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  5. ↑ Patil, Anil (9 July 2007). "Sugar cooperatives on death bed in Maharashtra". Rediff India. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Lalwani, Mala (2008). "Sugar Co-operatives in Maharashtra: A Political Economy Perspective" (PDF). The Journal of Development Studies. 44 (10): 1474–1505. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2014.
  7. ↑ http://www.helsinki.fi/iehc2006/papers2/Das72.pdf
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