Cooperative sugar factories in Maharashtra

[1] The then Bombay state government announced a capital share of one million rupees to establish sugar factories at these potential 12 places.

[2] Asia's first cooperative sugar factory[3] was established at Pravaranagar in the Ahmednagar District of the then Bombay state in 1950 by Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, & Gadgil.

[4] The sugar mill, called Pravara Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd, had majority ownership by the local farmers.

[5] Over the last sixty years, the local sugar mills have played a crucial part in encouraging rural political participation and as a stepping stone for aspiring politicians.

[6] In Maharashtra there are a large number of politicians belonging to the Congress or NCP with ties to sugar cooperatives from their respective local areas.