Balekundaragi said Someshwara Factory’s growth requires cooperation, capacity expansion, ethanol unit, electricity generation, and effective management.
Belagavi
Basavaraj Balekundaragi, President of Sri Someshwara Cooperative Sugar Factory, emphasized that members’ cooperation is essential for the growth and sustainability of the factory. Speaking at the annual meeting for 2024-25, he highlighted the importance of collective effort, development initiatives, and timely support from farmers and stakeholders.
Balekundaragi noted that the factory produced 2.53 lakh quintals of sugar last year with an average sugarcane yield of 12.53 percent, earning the first-place award from SISTA for the best sugar yield in the state. He stressed that managing a cooperative factory is challenging due to responsibilities such as issuing personal bonds, cheques, and sanctioning loans. To ensure the factory’s survival and growth, he said increasing the sugarcane crushing capacity from 2,500 TCD to 4,500 TCD, establishing a 100 KLPD ethanol unit, and installing 12 MW electricity generation are crucial. The management board is working to develop the factory by securing a loan of ₹47 crore.
Vice President Raju Kudasomannavara and Director Mahantesh Mattikoppa provided updates on the factory’s operations, while Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies and Managing Director GM Patil urged farmers and sugarcane growers to supply large quantities of sugarcane to ensure smooth functioning and progress.
Directors Umesh Bali, Rachappa Matti, Prakash Balekundaragi, Karthika Mallura, Ashoka Yaragoppa, Mallappa Ashthagi, Anita Metagudda, Kasthuri Somanatti, Adrishyappa Kotabagi, Ashoka Balekundaragi, Ramachandra Kakkayya, Sannabheemsheppa Ambadagatti, Rajashekar Yettinamani, and Srishaila Sharanappa were present at the meeting.
During the discussion, verbal exchanges addressed progress and shortcomings. Director Rachappa Matti, farmer leaders Mallikarjuna Humbi, Mahantesh Kamath, and Kittur Karnataka Sene District Unit President Shivanand Kolakara, among others, raised concerns and suggestions, underlining the importance of active cooperation between the factory management and the farming community.