Farmers’ Meet Held at Someshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory
Pune, Sept 2026 : Effective use of modern technology, reduction in production costs and strengthening the economics of farming are essential to increasing farmers’ incomes. Against the backdrop of changing weather conditions and rising input costs, the agriculture and sugar sectors must adopt modern technology, value-added products and precise planning while giving the highest priority to farmers’ welfare, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said.
She was speaking at a farmers’ meet organised at the Someshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory in Someshwarnagar. Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Makarand Jadhav Patil, MLA Sachin Patil, former MLA Sambhaji Kunjir, Pune District Central Cooperative Bank Chairman Dr Digambar Durgade, factory Chairman Purushottam Jagtap, Vice-Chairman Kisan Tambe and former chairman and current director Rajvardhan Shinde were among those present.
Pawar said farmers are the backbone of the rural economy. If farmers become economically stronger, the economies of villages and, consequently, the state will also become stronger. Therefore, the government, farmers, cooperative institutions and the sugar industry must work in coordination to provide farmers with modern technology and necessary facilities.
She recalled that the late Dada was himself a farmer and therefore had a close understanding of the difficulties and needs of the farming community. He had emphasised the use of modern technology to increase farmers’ incomes. Greater adoption of artificial intelligence, modern irrigation techniques, mechanisation, soil testing, selection of improved crop varieties and precision crop planning can help increase productivity while reducing production costs, she said.
Pawar noted that the sugar industry is an important pillar of Maharashtra’s rural economy. To deal with challenges such as excessive rainfall, drought, climate uncertainty, rising production costs and fluctuations in sugar prices, sugar factories should not remain dependent solely on sugar production. Instead, they should focus on ethanol, biogas, CNG, organic fertilisers and other value-added products, she said.
She praised the Someshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory for establishing credibility in the cooperative sector through financial discipline, efficient management and its focus on farmers’ interests. The contribution of members, sugarcane growers, workers, officers and management has been crucial to the factory’s progress, she said.
Pawar urged the factory to undertake long-term planning to ensure that farmer-members continue to receive maximum benefits. She also called upon cooperative institutions to maintain their tradition of contributing to education, healthcare and social welfare while playing a role in the overall development of the surrounding region.
Minister Makarand Jadhav Patil praised the progress achieved by the Someshwar factory and said its achievements were the result of the collective contribution of farmers, members, workers and management. He stressed the need for systematic planning to ensure future growth while maintaining the institution’s financial strength, efficiency and credibility.
MLA Sachin Patil also praised the factory’s efficient management, financial discipline and continued focus on farmers’ welfare.
In his introductory remarks, Someshwar Sugar Factory Chairman Purushottam Jagtap highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the factory and outlined its achievements. A large number of farmers attended the meeting.
