The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced a new incentive scheme for cooperative and private sugar mills aimed at strengthening their financial capacity and promoting higher quality standards across the sector.
Launched to mark the International Year of Cooperatives and the Diamond Jubilee of the state’s cooperative sugar industry, the initiative seeks to recognise and reward the best-performing units based on quality and efficiency, according to a government resolution (GR), reported PTI.
Under the scheme, sugar mills will be evaluated annually across nine key parameters, with prizes awarded to the top performers. The evaluation criteria include:
-Timely 100% Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) payments to farmers over the past three years (15 points)
-Overall departmental performance (10 points)
-Sugar recovery rate (10 points)
-Production per hectare (10 points)
-Use of Artificial Intelligence and area coverage (10 points)
-Low carbon emissions and high carbon credit generation (10 points)
-Timely repayment of government loans (10 points)
-Cost efficiency, audits, and operational performance (5 points)
-Employee strength limits and wage payments (5 points)
The selection process will follow a two-tier committee system. Regional joint directors will propose six top mills, three cooperative and three private, from each division to a scrutiny committee headed by the Sugar Commissioner. This committee will shortlist six cooperative and six private mills, from which a final panel led by the State Cooperation Minister will select the top three winners in each category.
Details of the prizes and other benefits will be announced later, the resolution added.
