Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the expanded Pravara Sugar Factory in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, and unveiled life-size statues of Padma Shri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil and Padma Bhushan Balasaheb Vikhe Patil. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol were present.
Shah highlighted the contribution of the Vikhe Patil family to India’s cooperative movement, noting that Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil established the world’s first cooperative sugar mill, ensuring profits reached farmers. His son, Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, expanded cooperative initiatives into education, health, and rural development, saving 225 cooperative banks in Gujarat with RBI support.
The Pravara mill’s capacity has surged from 500 tonnes to 7,200 tonnes of sugarcane per day, with plans to reach 15,000 tonnes. The alcohol, ethanol, biogas, and cogeneration plants have also been significantly upgraded. Shri Shah emphasized that under PM Modi, sugar production, distilleries, and ethanol blending have increased dramatically, and cooperative sugar mills now enjoy corporate-level tax benefits and financial relief.
Shah urged cooperative mills to diversify into multi-feed ethanol, vegetable and fruit products, and collaborate with NAFED and NCCF, stressing that such initiatives will strengthen farmers’ income and make India self-reliant.
