Introduction

Origin

A pioneering effort of starting an Agro-Industrial project in the Co-Operative field for achieving social upliftment through rural development was made for the first time in Ahmednagar District in the year 1950 by Pravara Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., under the guidance of distinguished co-operative leaders like Sarvashri Dr. Dhananjayrao Gadgil, Shri Vaikunthbhai Mehta and Shri Vitthalrao Vikhe-Patil and it proved to be very successful venture mainly on account of efforts of the rural co-operative leaders. This has ushered in an era of Sugar Co-Operative in Maharashtra which has resulted in transforming Rural Economy in the vicinity of Sugar Factories by ensuring stability and better return to the cultivators.

Shirol Taluka of Kolhapur District is gifted by the presence of natural irrigation potential on account of five rivers viz: KRISHNA, PANCHGANGA, WARANA, DOODHGANGA and VEDGANGA and very fertile land of alluvial type soil. The agriculturists in this area were very eager to have a Sugar Factory so as to ensure all-round development and economic prosperity to the higher to poor and marginal farmers. A preliminary meeting was, therefore, held at KURUNDWAD in Shirol Taluka on 31st December 1960 for organizing a Sugar Factory. After collecting requisite amount of share capital, an application for Industrial Licence was forwarded to the Government of India. During initial phase Late Shri. Dattajirao Baburao Kadam, Late Shri. Dinkarrao BhausahebYadav, Late Shri. Vishwasrao Santajirao Ghorpade – Dattawadkar and Dr. Appasaheb alias S. R. Patil put their joint efforts to get the License from Government of India.

These main promoters put very hard efforts to establish the Sugar Factory in adverse condition. The persistent efforts put forth by the Promoters of the proposed Shree Datta Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., Shirol, ultimately proved to be successful and the Government of India issued a Letter of Intent in the month of May, 1969, in accordance with its enlightened Agro-Industrial Policy. Shree Datta Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., Shirol, was registered as a Co-Operative Society under the Maharashtra Co- Operative Societies Act, 1960 on 9th June 1969 vide Registration No. KPR/PRG/(A)-1. An Industrial Licence for establishing a Sugar Factory on Co-Operative basis with initial crushing capacity of 1250 M. Tonnes per day was issued.
 

Our industrial co-operative complex is situated at Dattanagar, Tal-Shirol Dist-Kolhapur Maharashtra State near holly place called Narsinghwadi a famous pilgrimage of lord Shree DATTA. The industrial complex is spread over an area of 235 acres.  

A pioneer efforts  were made to start Shree Datta SSSK Ltd., Shirol; by Late Shri Vishwasrao Ghorapade, Late Shri Dinkarrao Yadav, Late Shri Dattajirao Kadam and Shri. Appasaheb alias S.R.Patil, who is present Chairman and one of the founder members of our sugar factory
          
Shri. Appasaheb alias S.R.Patil, is politically active and had two successful terms as a MLA. He has traveled extensively all over the world and visited 31 countries on various study tours. He is felicitated by many prestigious individual awards for his social work and dedication in co-operative movement. He is associated with socialist movement and had privilege to work with renowned people like Late Shri S.M.Joshi, Late Shri Gadgil, Late Shri Vaikunthbhai Mehata, Shri Mohan Dharia and others. He is a well known social worker in Maharashtra and has headed many social as well as co-operative organization. We can look towards him as a fountain of love, inspiration and pillar of strength.

He is a great visionary and his commitment towards social upliftment of the society and his foresightedness has taken our organization to a great rise. Under his dynamic leadership our industrial complex earned the fame as one of the innovative and best sugar factory in Maharashtra. His dedicated work towards social justice and his towering personality has created trust among the cane growers which can be realised from the fact that he is here in this organisation since its inception till todate. His great vision, dedication, and foresightedness has brought this present glory for our organization.

Area of  Operation  

NOTE: - Operations of the Shree Datta SSSK Ltd.,  is governed under Multi-state Co-Operative Societies Act, 2002 and Rules there under.

Sugar Project Implementation

Shree Datta Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., Shirol, is situated in the industrially backward area of Kolhapur District near village Shirol and is the first Co-Operative Sugar Factory in the State to go into production amongst the 12 contemporary licensees licensed in the year 1969.  

The Sugar Project of 1250 TCD was implemented within a short span of about 22 months & trial crushing season has been taken on the auspicious day of VARSH PRATIPADA the 16th March 1972.

To attain the economical viability the expansion from 1250 TCD to 2000 TCD has been undertaken and had been completed at the record time of five months and crushing operations with the expanded capacity was commenced in the year 1980-81.

Considering availability of Sugarcane and probable increase in the acreage in sugarcane, we again expanded our crushing capacity upto 2500 TCD under the, the then liberalized licensing policy of the Union Government.

Considering the continuous increase in the area under sugarcane and due to successful implementation of various Cane Development activities, yield per acre also increased. Taking into consideration of the surplus availability of sugarcane, the management of the Factory had decided to increase the crushing capacity from 2500 TCD to 5000 TCD during the season 1989-1990. As per the request of Karkhana, the Government of India had issued the Industrial Licence bearing No. IL:487(88)-Amendment dated 9th December 1988 to substantial expansion from its existing capacity of 2500 TCD to 5000 TCD. The erection of the said expansion project was completed within a record time of 11 months and started the commercial production from 29th March 1990.

The Management of the Factory after taking into consideration further availability of sugarcane in the operational area, probable increase in the Hectors under sugarcane as well as yield per Hectors, to minimize the cost of production and to crush the entire sugarcane upto 10th April in the peak period of highest recovery, decided to increase the crushing capacity from 5000 TCD to 7000 TCD in two phases. The 1st phase of expansion was successfully completed in the off season period of 1999/2000 crushing season and IInd phase of the said project is undertaken and completed and crushing season was started with expanded capacity of 7000 TCD from 2000/2001 season. At present Shree Datta Co-operative Industrial Complex is sprayed over 265 Acres Land.