Malegaon sugar factory begins 70th crushing season, aims to crush 13 lakh tonnes of cane

The 70th crushing season of the Malegaon Cooperative Sugar Factory began on October 12. The season was inaugurated by Sunetra Pawar, the state's first woman Deputy Chief Minister and the factory's chairperson. After the season began, the first five bags of sugar produced at the factory were ceremonially worshipped as the "first Lakshmi".

On the occasion, the factory management paid tribute to the late Ajit Pawar and saluted his work. A pledge was also taken to make this year's season a success with the cooperation of members, cane-growing farmers, workers and everyone associated with the factory.

The factory has set a target of crushing 13 lakh tonnes of cane in the current season. To achieve this, emphasis will be placed on procuring gate-cane in addition to cane from its own operational area. Maintenance and repair of the factory's machinery was completed before the season began. The administration is ready to ensure crushing continues without interruption.

Vice-chairman Nitin Shende said, "This year's crushing season has some difficulties, but with the unity of members, cane-growing farmers, workers and the board of directors, all the difficulties will be overcome. Everyone will work together to achieve the crushing target the factory has set under the leadership of Sunetra Pawar."

Shende said that if the factory gets as much cane as possible, it will help meet the crushing target and also boost sugar production, co-generation power production and bagasse production. This will strengthen the factory's finances and benefit cane-growing farmers, members and workers.

To keep the season running smoothly, coordination has been arranged among cane cutting, transport and crushing and across the factory's various departments. The plan is to bring farmers' cane to the factory on time, crush it, and keep all the factory's machinery running at full capacity.

It was stated that the board of directors and the administration are working to make this year's season a success while maintaining the trust that members and cane-growing farmers place in the factory.

Present at the event were vice-chairman Nitin Shende, directors Ganesh Khalate, Vijay Taware, Shivrajraje Jadhavrao, Ratankumar Bhosale, Satish Phalke and Adv. Machhindra Mulmule, managing director Jitendra Ranware, works manager Anil Wable, chief chemist Shrikant Patil, store keeper Suresh Devkate and warehouse head Laxman Jagtap, along with officials, employees, members and cane-growing farmers.

At the end, the pledge to make this year's crushing season a success by meeting the target of crushing 13 lakh tonnes of cane, with everyone's cooperation, was reiterated.