Bihar signs MoU to revive Sakri and Raiyam sugar mills
Bihar has partnered with National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd to revive closed sugar mills in Sakri and Raiyam after decades. The project will boost sugar, ethanol, power, and biogas production, creating jobs, attracting investment, and ensuring a stable market and better prices for local sugarcane farmers.
Patna: State Cooperative Department, Bihar on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd (NFCSF), New Delhi, to revive two closed sugar mills located in Sakri in Madhubani district and Raiyam in Darbhanga district, The Times of India reported.
The memorandum of understanding was signed at a programme held at the Deep Narayan Singh Regional Institute of Cooperative Management in the state capital. The event was attended by Cooperative Minister Pramod Kumar, Cooperative Department Secretary Dharmendra Singh, NFCSF Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare and other officials. The agreement was formally signed by Joint Secretary Mohammad Abdul Rab Khan and NFCSF Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare.
Under the agreement, NFCSF will act as the nodal agency for the revival of the closed mills. It will prepare a Detailed Project Report and a feasibility report, along with offering other consultancy support required for setting up the units, an official said.
NFCSF is the main body representing cooperative sugar mills across the country and works with more than 260 member factories. It assists them in policy-related matters, provides technical guidance and supports modernisation efforts. Officials said the federation’s experience is expected to speed up the revival process and help ensure that the proposed mills are financially viable.
Speaking at the event, the Cooperative Minister said that two cooperative sugar mills will be revived at Sakri and Raiyam. He said a cooperative society of sugarcane farmers will be formed in the mill areas, giving farmers a stable local market for their produce. This, he added, will ensure that sugarcane growers receive fair prices, create new jobs in rural areas and bring fresh investment into the local economy.
Two separate industrial complexes are planned at Sakri and Raiyam. Along with sugar production, the facilities are expected to include power generation, ethanol production and compressed biogas production, another official said.
The decision to revive the mills was taken a few months ago under the state government’s second resolution, “Samriddh Udyog-Sashakt Bihar,” as part of the “Saat Nischay-3” programme for 2025–30. A high-level committee led by the Chief Secretary has transferred the Sakri and Raiyam mills to the Cooperative Department for their revival and operation.
Both mills have been shut since 1997. The Raiyam sugar mill was established in 1914, while the Sakri mill was set up in 1933 during the British period. The Sakri unit has 47 acres of land, and the Raiyam unit has more than 68 acres. Raiyam also has a 14-km trolley line extending to Makdumpur. The process of transferring the land to the Cooperative Department is currently in progress.
Officials including the Registrar of Cooperative Societies Rajnish Kumar Singh and Additional Registrar Vikas Kumar Bariar were also present at the programme.
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Source : Chinimandi
