The Bihar Government has approved the formation of Primary Sugar Mill Cooperative Societies in the notified reserved areas, or command areas, of cooperative sugar mills, marking a significant step towards strengthening the institutional link between sugarcane growers and cooperative mills.
The approval will enable sugarcane farmers in the command areas to organise themselves into primary-level cooperative societies and supply their produce to the respective cooperative sugar mills. The initiative is aimed at creating a structured cooperative mechanism for farmers and improving coordination between growers and mills.
The move was announced through a social media post by the Bihar Government’s Department of Cooperation, which said approval had been granted for the formation of the societies in the notified command areas.
The proposed Primary Sugar Mill Cooperative Societies are expected to function on lines similar to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), providing a grassroots cooperative framework for sugarcane producers.
The decision comes amid efforts to strengthen Bihar’s cooperative sugar sector and improve the participation of farmers in the sugar value chain. It could also help cooperative mills establish a more organised network for procurement of sugarcane from their designated areas.
The Bihar Cabinet had earlier approved the establishment of such societies in the reserved areas of cooperative sugar mills, including the Sakri and Raiyam sugar mills.
The initiative is expected to give sugarcane growers a formal cooperative platform while supporting the functioning and procurement operations of cooperative sugar mills across the state.
