The Maharshi Shankarrao Kolhe Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana has emerged as a national model for cooperative innovation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said during the inauguration of India’s first multi-feed Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant.
Shah highlighted that the sugar cooperative exemplifies the circular economy by producing biogas and potash from molasses, reducing import dependence and generating additional revenue streams.
Beyond energy, the cooperative has expanded into ethanol production, fruit processing, fisheries, and integration of 100 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), while supporting women’s self-help groups and rural employment initiatives.
Shah emphasized that the Kolhe model demonstrates how cooperatives can combine sustainability, profitability, and social empowerment, providing a blueprint for sugar mills and cooperative institutions across Maharashtra and India to replicate.
