Tue Dec 30 20:07:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Bihar Cooperative Minister, Pramod Kumar, announced plans to revive old sugar mills and establish new ones as part of the state government’s “Saat Nischay” program. Two sugar mills, Sakri and Raiyam, are slated to be operated by the Cooperative Department. The department is currently working on establishing cooperative committees and developing detailed project reports. Minister Kumar also reported that Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) have procured 9.53 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers, with payments of Rs 1755 crore already made. Efforts are underway to increase procurement limits and improve transparency in the paddy procurement process. A membership-cum-awareness drive for PACS will be launched in January to promote awareness and increase membership. The minister stated that PACS will be developed as a major service center.
News Article:
Bihar to Revive Sugar Mills, Focus on Farmer Support Through Cooperatives
Patna, December 31, 2025 – The Bihar government is set to revitalize its sugar industry by reviving old mills and establishing new ones under the “Saat Nischay” program. Cooperative Minister Pramod Kumar announced yesterday that the Cooperative Department will oversee the operation of two mills, Sakri in Madhubani district and Raiyam in Darbhanga district.
“We have received a proposal and are making preparations for the transfer of the mills to our department,” said Mr. Kumar during a press conference. The department is currently focusing on establishing cooperative committees and developing detailed plans for the mills’ operation.
In addition to the sugar mill initiative, Minister Kumar highlighted the success of the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) in procuring paddy from farmers. “So far, PACS has procured 9.53 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from 1.32 lakh farmers, and we have disbursed Rs 1755 crore in payments,” he stated. The state government is seeking to increase the paddy procurement limit from the central government to 45 lakh metric tonnes.
To improve transparency and efficiency, District Magistrates have been instructed to create lists of farmers interested in selling paddy and provide them with tentative dates for sale. A toll-free IVRS call center (1800 1800 110) is also available for farmers to address grievances related to paddy procurement.
Looking ahead, the Cooperative Department will launch a “membership-cum-awareness drive” at the panchayat level starting January 2nd. The initiative aims to promote awareness of cooperative schemes and increase membership in PACS. Minister Kumar emphasized the importance of PACS, stating that the government intends to develop them as major service centers for the rural population, providing 25 different types of services.
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