Sugar Commissionerate

Sugar Commissionerate, Maharashtra State, Pune.A separate Directorate of sugar was created in the year 1971 in the Department of Co-operation. This office has been elevated to that of Commissionerate of Sugar in year 1991-92. This office essentially excercises the powers and performs the functions of the Registrar of sugar co-operatives in the State under The Maharashtra Co-operatives Societies Act 1960.

Role of Sugar Commissioner

The sugar industry plays a major role in the economy of Maharashtra. To cater to the needs of this industry, a separate Directorate of Sugar was created within the Department of Cooperation. This was elevated to the Commissionerate of Sugar in the year 1991-92. The sugar industries in Maharashtra have been the nuclei of economic and social growth in rural Maharashtra. Being a part of the sugar sector, the Commissionerate of Sugar has an important role to play in the development of the socio-economic landscape of the state. The role of the Sugar Commissioner is both Developmental and Regulatory. The Commissioner exercises the powers and functions of the Registrar under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960.

Developmental Role of Sugar Commissioner

• To bring about the development of the sugar sector by way of promoting Cane Development Programs.
• Setting up of Sugar Units, Co-generation Units, Ethanol Plants, Distilleries, and other by-product units.

Regulatory Role of Sugar Commissioner

• To conduct statutory audits of co-operative sugar factories.
• To accord sanction to capital expenditure incurred by cooperative sugar factories.
• To approve the Final Cane Price paid to farmers.
• To consider and recommend proposals of factories for the purpose of Government guarantee for loans.
• To issue crushing licenses every year.
• To take steps to ensure the payment of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to farmers.

Sugar Industry at a Glance

In the agriculture sector worldwide, the sugar industry has a significant share in contributing to farmers’ income. In the sugar industry, Brazil leads with 21% of the world’s sugar production, followed by India at 15%, China at 7.17%, Thailand at 5.95%, the USA at 4.25%, and others at 46.63%.

Maharashtra is the largest sugar-producing state in India, contributing around 35% of the total sugar production in the country. The sugar industry in Maharashtra, which is largely in the cooperative sector, has been at the forefront of the transformation of the agrarian economy for the last fifty years.