The Pravaranagar Udhyog Samuha

The Pravaranagar Udhyog Samuha :
(The Pravaranagar Rural Industrial Complex)

In 1951, the Pravaranagar Sugar Co-operative came into existence. The birth of this sugar co-operative itself was a revolution of sorts not only in the Indian co-operative sector but also the Asian region. This was the first sugar co-operative in Asia owned collectively by farmers from the Ahmednagar region.

This co-operative was organized by Dr.Vitthalrao Vikhe-Patil and received guidance from Dr. Dhananjayrao Gadgil, an eminent thinker in the co-operative philosophy. This co-operative sugar factory set an example in the echelons of rural Maharashtra and inspired the formation of scores of other sugar-co-operatives in Maharashtra. Thus it set a starting point for not only the farmers to organize themselves but also the concept of rural leadership.

Today there are about 175 such sugar factories out of which 116 are operative and which processed 50.19 million Metric Tonnes of sugarcane almost one-third of the sugar cane processed in India! The pioneers did not stop only at sugar-cane processing. Today the Pravaranagar Sugar Co-operative (now named as Padmashree Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe-Patil Co-op Sugar Factory Ltd.) has integrated various projects for optimal benefits to its members.

Watershed Management: Sugarcane requires water, the co-operative has undertaken watershed management program so that water will be available to their members crops.

Modernization of Distillery: has been undertaken for optimal production of spirit from molasses.

Water pollution control: this program is undertaken as responsibility towards the environment. It controls pollution of river water where waste from the distillery is disposed.

Pravara Institute of Research and Education in Natural and Social Sciences

The co-operative has also diversified into a chemical plant and paper manufacturing plant.

The co-operative has also developed a host of other co-operatives ranging from those which give loans for higher education t o local students to workers credit society to transporters co-operative societies for transportation of sugarcane and also the Pravara Co-op Bank.

Thus this co-operative has developed itself with a definite long-term vision. Today it is a successful embodiment of all the seven principles of co-operation. Its example is worth to be emulated.