Ethanol blending has transformed the balance sheets of sugar mills, and India’s sugar cooperatives sector has benefited immensely after Narendra Modi became the prime minister, Union Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday.
He also assured that the Centre, under PM Modi’s leadership, will extend all possible assistance to farmers in Maharashtra who have suffered losses due to heavy rains recently.
The Union Minister for Home and Cooperation was addressing a farmers’ rally after inaugurating the expanded capacity of Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Cooperative Sugar Factory in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district. The factory has increased its crushing capacity to 10,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day.
During the event, Shah also unveiled statues of Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil, a notable figure in the cooperative movement, and his son and former Union minister Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil.
**Sugar Cooperatives and Ethanol Blending**
“The sugar cooperative sector has benefited immensely after Narendra Modi became the prime minister,” Shah said, adding that sugar cooperatives should modernise to ensure long-term sustainability.
The government has allocated Rs 10,000 crore to promote ethanol production, he noted. “Ethanol blending has transformed the balance sheets of sugar mills. If 20% of the earnings are reinvested in expansion, the coming generations will benefit,” he added.
Shah appealed to sugar cooperatives to produce multi-feed ethanol during the non-crushing season. “During the non-crushing season, cooperative mills should establish multi-feed ethanol units to utilise wasted vegetables, maize, and rice. The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) will provide loans for such upgradation, and cooperative mills prioritising ethanol production will be given preference,” he said.
**Support for Maharashtra Farmers Affected by Heavy Rains**
Shah reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to supporting farmers impacted by recent heavy rains and floods in Maharashtra.
He praised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar for their initiative in seeking central assistance for state farmers.
Several parts of Maharashtra experienced severe rain and flooding, causing widespread damage. After arriving in Shirdi on Saturday night, Shah held a meeting with CM Fadnavis and his deputies at a local hotel. On Sunday morning, he offered prayers at the Saibaba temple in Shirdi.
At the farmers’ rally, Shah revealed that more than 60 lakh hectares of agricultural land have been affected by the recent downpour.
“I had a detailed meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and both Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. On behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I assured them that once a detailed report is submitted, PM Modi will not delay extending any help to Maharashtra’s farmers,” Shah said.
The Centre has already released Rs 3,132 crore from the previous year’s assistance, including Rs 1,631 crore in April this year. The Maharashtra government has also provided Rs 2,215 crore as relief, benefiting more than 31 lakh farmers, according to Shah.
He further highlighted several measures taken by the state government to ease farmers’ distress:
– Rs 10,000 cash assistance and 35 kg of food grains provided to each flood-affected family
– Suspension of loan recovery
– Relaxation of one-time e-KYC norms
– Relief in revenue tax and school fees
**Political Reactions**
At the rally, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised Opposition leaders over the state government’s decision to impose a levy on sugarcane mills, asserting that the contribution would come from their profits and not from farmers’ earnings.
However, NCP (SP) president and former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar expressed surprise over the move. “I am surprised that the Maharashtra government decided to charge an extra levy from sugarcane cultivators to provide financial assistance to Marathwada farmers hit by floods. I hope the state government changes its decision,” Pawar said.
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This development marks a significant step towards modernising sugar cooperatives and supporting farmers affected by natural calamities in Maharashtra, underlining the central government’s commitment to agricultural and rural welfare.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/ethanol-blending-has-transformed-sugar-mills-balance-sheets-amit-shah-at-ahilyanagar-farmers-rally