Lasalgaon: Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana president and former MP Raju Shetti paid a goodwill visit to the KGS sugar factory at Pimpalgaon Nipani in Niphad taluka and appealed to farmers in the region to support the newly revived unit by supplying sugarcane, reported Navbharat Live.
Shetti was welcomed by factory chairman Sanjay Bapu Holkar and director Soniatai Holkar during the visit. Addressing farmers and workers, Shetti said running sugar factories has become extremely challenging under present conditions and that mills cannot survive without producing by-products alongside sugar.
He said the situation of sugar factories in Nashik district remains critical. In this situation, he said, farmers should come forward to supply sugarcane and help strengthen cooperative and private sugar factories in the region.
Executive director Aditya Holkar also appealed to sugarcane growers to extend their cooperation, stating that the factory has resumed operations and requires a steady supply of cane from farmers.
A large number of farmers from Nashik district and nearby areas attended the programme along with office-bearers and workers of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana. Retired DYSP Prabhakar Raite, Chandrashekhar Gavle, Dnyaneshwar Rambhau Khade, Dnyaneshwar Malhari Khade, Ravindra Eknath Bodke and Somnath Bangar, along with factory officials and employees, were also present.
Shetti said the development of the region and Nashik district would be possible only if all stakeholders associated with the factory worked together in coordination. Referring to the sugar industry model of western Maharashtra, he said the KGS sugar factory would play an important role in accelerating the progress of Niphad taluka.
He also thanked the Holkar family for taking over the factory, which had remained closed for six years, and for clearing pending dues of farmers to restart operations. Director Sonia Holkar said the factory was purchased and revived despite several difficulties, and efforts were made to bring it back into operation after a long shutdown.
