Khandala factory is our pride, let us all save it, MP Nitin Patil appeals at annual meeting
Nitin Patil urged farmers and leaders to set politics aside and supply all their cane to the Khandala cooperative sugar factory, which is preparing to begin crushing on October 15.
The annual general meeting of the Khandala Taluka Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana was held at the factory site. Members of all factions attended, and the mood was one of harmony and cheer. At the meeting, Satara District Central Cooperative Bank chairman and MP Nitin Patil made an emotional appeal.
Patil said the Khandala factory is in difficulty and needs everyone's help to come out of it. The cooperative sugar factory of Khandala taluka is a matter of pride for all, he said, so everyone must come together to save it. He also said the senior people present at the meeting had contributed to the factory.
Those prominently present included senior leader and former factory chairman Shankarrao Gadhave, former district bank chairman Bakajirao Patil, vice chairman Rajendra Tambe, Kisan Veer vice chairman Pramod Shinde and Dattanana Dhamal.
According to MP Patil, both the Kisan Veer and Khandala factories were taken over in difficult circumstances. He expressed satisfaction that, over the past four years, crushing seasons were completed despite various obstacles and that the factories matched others in the price paid to farmers. Last season, an average of 2,900 metric tonnes was crushed daily over 88 days, which he said was the highest ever. The board of directors intends to crush at a similar level in the 2026-27 season, with a target of 4 lakh metric tonnes.
Patil said there is 4 lakh tonnes' worth of sugarcane area within a 30 km radius of the factory. He said leaders should set aside political differences and think about saving their cooperative institution. Farmers should give all their cane to the factory and work to free it of debt as soon as possible. He assured the meeting that the day all dues of the Kisan Veer factory are paid, this factory will be handed over to the present board of directors.
Patil said he has never practised politics in the institution and will not do so in future. In his view, the coming time is difficult for the sugar business, and farmers are moving away from sugarcane. As factories' crushing capacity has grown, the crushing season has shrunk to fewer days, which is a matter of concern. He appealed to everyone to supply their own and neighbouring areas' cane to the factory and to help meet the target.
Vice chairman Rajendra Tambe said the factory's boiler-lighting ceremony was recently performed by the state's Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarandaba Patil. He said the government has permitted factories to start from October 15, all work at the factory is complete and it is ready for crushing. He expressed regret that although the highest crushing was achieved last season, the target could not be met. Tambe added that everyone is committed to achieving this year's target.
Executive director Uttam Patil read out the agenda items, and all were approved amid applause. Director D. M. Bhosale conducted the proceedings and proposed the vote of thanks.
The factory's directors Chandrakant Dhamal, Dattatray Dhamal, Ashok Gadhave, Ramesh Dhaygude, Dnyaneshwar Bhosale, Sahebrao Kadam, Dhanaji Ahirekar, Kisan Nanaware, Shivaji Shelke-Patil, Ratnakant Bhosale, Suresh Raskar and Shalini Pawar were present. Kisan Veer factory directors Ramdas Gadhave, Sandip Chavan, Kiran Kalokhe and Prakash Dhurgude also attended. Secretary Sagar Gadhave, farmer members, officials and employees were also present.
