Cooperative sugar mills directed to set a target of 25 percent increase in business

12-Aug-2024 01:46 PM

New Delhi. The Union Cooperative Minister has asked the cooperative sector sugar mills to set a target of increasing business by 25 percent in the next two years and has also suggested to try to establish sugar mills in other states by joining in groups so that more and more farmers can get a share in the profit.

The Cooperative Minister praised the work and efforts of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories and said that the Federation should follow the policies of Mother Dairy and open cooperative sugar mills in those states where these units are not present right now.

Speaking at a program organized by the Federation, the Cooperative Minister said that cooperative sugar mills should also focus on alternative sources of sugarcane for ethanol production, which can prove to be a better means of its income.

Although the target of blending ethanol in petrol is to reach 20 percent by the year 2030, but this target is expected to be exceeded only in 2025-26. He explained how the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) has helped reduce the country's crude oil (petroleum) import cost.

India is still among the leading petroleum importing countries. According to the Cooperation Minister, sugar mills should move forward with a forward-looking approach and pay special attention to adopting new technologies.

Since ethanol can be produced from many things other than sugarcane, diversification of the process can prove to be very beneficial for it. India needs to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels (fossil fuel or petroleum) and at the same time promote sustainable energy sources. Sugar mills can play an important role in this.