Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray said that “The sugar industries are the backbone of farmers and the government will stand by the sugar industries in the state for the welfare of the farmer’s. The government will always be functioning as the supporter of the farmers”. He also announced that state government will soon decide on providing land for the establishment of the branch of Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Marathwada region.
Thackeray was speaking at the 43rd annual General Meeting and Prize Distribution Ceremony of the Vasantdada sugar Institute at Manjari in Pune after inaugurating it. Former Union Minister and President of the institution Sharad Pawar, Co-operative and Finance Minister Jayant Patil, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, vice-president of Sugar Institute Dilip Walse Patil, MLA Ajit Pawar, Rajesh Tope, Balasaheb Patil, former MP president of Indian Sugar Institute Rohit Pawar, former minister Vijay Singh Mohite Patil, Harshvardhan Patil, Kalappa Awade, Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar, director general of the institution Shivaji Rao Deshmukh and others were present among the dignitaries.
Speaking further, Thackeray said that the contribution of Vasantdada Sugar Institute to the sugar industry of Maharashtra is remarkable. He said that the new technology is reaching to the farmers with the mediation of VSI. Maharashtra is one of the highest in sugar production ranking among entire nation. He said that today the sugar industries are facing various problems and for overcoming them, a committee of experts will be appointed by the government and policy decision will be taken. He also said that the government is making all-out effort to see that the life of farmers gets a lift.
He added that the decision has been announced by the government to waive off the loan upto Rs. 2 lakhs for all the farmers in the state. He said that the decision will also be taken for the farmers who have taken loan exceeding Rs.2 lakhs and the information in this regard is being gathered from the banks. He said that his government will take decision in this regard and give a sigh of relief to such farmers, reiterating that all those farmers who are repaying the installments of the loans regularly, will also get the benefit of some scheme in near future.
The chief minister further said that for increasing the productivity of sugar, the sugar factory needs to emphasize on by-products. He said that for the survival, improvement and sustainable income of sugarcane factories and stakeholders, the government, sugar factory owners and farmers should come together and chalk out strategy. This will help the sugar industries to flourish, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharad Pawar said that VSI is a leading institution in the field of sugar production and sugarcane crops. He said that all should take efforts to increase the sugarcane yield and sugar productivity. He asked all the sugarcane industries to concentrate on development of factories and suggested that in order to see smile on the faces of sugarcane producing farmers, collective efforts are necessary.
He further said that the sugar business is very important part of rural Maharashtra and the state gets good revenue from this business. So, the production of sugar cane, sugar and its quality should be enhanced and all the sugar factories should implement ‘Sugarcane Development Programme’ in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Co-operative Minister Jayant Patil said that presently the sugar industries are going through hard times. He said that last year it was because of the drought and this year, unseasonal rains broke the backbone. It was due to these reasons that the sugarcane growing farmers have to face a lot of loss. He said that the co-generation project of sugar factories can help pay farmers good price for the sugar. He also said that the Cooperative sugar factories can make the farmers financially strong and it is the main source of rural development.
Thackeray released the technical performance reports, distillery reports, financial performance report and the calendar of sugar Federation on the occasion. He also distributed various prizes sponsored by VSI to Sugar industry. Office bearers of sugarcane Industries, members and sugarcane producing farmers were present in large number on this occasion.
