The Dr Patangrao Kadam Sonhira Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. is a prominent cooperative sugar mill in Kadegaon Taulka. The cooperative movement in Maharashtra brings agricultural prosperity to the area. The factory has been established to uplift economically backward regions. It brings regional prosperity through employment and agriculture-based industries.
Sonhira Sugar Factory: The vision and origin!
Legendary visionary and educational pioneer, Late Dr Patangrao Kadam, and his brother, Mr Shivajirao Kadam, founded the factory. They recognise the socioeconomic hardships faced by the rural poor in the Khanapur and Palus regions. They dreamt of transformation as an agro-industrial catalyst. Later, the dream materialised on 25th March 1994, when the Sugar Commissioner issued the registration certificate. Later, the factory commenced its first crushing operation during the 1990-2000 season. The factory’s initial capacity was only 2,500 tonnes of cane.
Agricultural operations and crushing units!
-
- Sugar plant: The sonhira sugar factory spans an operational area of 8k hectares. Initially, the factory is licensed to crush 2,500 tonnes per day. Now, the sugar mill is crushing up to 5,000 TCD across 8k hectares.
- Distillery Unit: The integrated distillery unit produces 60-105 kiloliters of alcohol (ethanol) per day.
- Strategic location and connectivity: The factory occupies a spacious campus measuring 109.30hectares in Southern Maharashtra. The location benefits from a highly fertile agricultural belt and optimal climate conditions, resulting in high-yielding sugarcane cultivation.
The infrastructure of the plant is well-connected by using various means:
- Road transportation
The sonhira sugar factory is located strategically adjacent to a state highway, making it easily accessible to logistics trucks and farmers. The plant connects directly via regional state highways and is perfectly situated 25km from Karad railway station, streamlining transport logistics.
- Agrarian Advantage
The local climate is great for providing high-yielding sugarcane. The region has ideal temperatures, balanced humidity, and rainfall, which make it an exceptionally high-yielding region.
- Rail Networks
The rail network is roughly 11 km from the Takari railway station and 25 km from the Karad railway station along the principal Mumbai-Kolhapur line.
Industrial infrastructure and capacity!
The forward integration techniques have expanded the sugar mill. Nowadays, the industrial hub incorporates automated milling and chemical distilling operations. Walchandnagar Industries supplied the original sugar-processing machinery.
- Know about the products produced.
The factory is producing high-quality commercial sugar along with various lucrative bio-products and formulations. Here, you can check out the list of produced products.
- Ethanol and spirits
The factory processes B-grade molasses and pure sugarcane juice and is able to produce industrial alcohol and rectified spirit. It also produces extra neutral alcohol and fuel ethanol.
- Financial health
If you see the credit rating score from institutions like CRISIL, it can be estimated that the unit is operating with stable financial health. The integrated structure works as a financial buffer against fluctuations in the sugar market.
Conclusion!
In the end, it can be said that the Sonhire factory is working as a progressive enterprise. It adheres to regulatory environmental guidelines. Also, the factory is actively participating in adopting the latest agricultural technology. The factory has taken smart initiatives to help local farmers increase yields while cutting water use by 50%. The factory includes sugar manufacturing, a distillery unit and a cogeneration power plant.
