New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- Five cooperative sugar mills in Punjab have won national awards for financial management, cane development and technical efficiency at the National Cooperative Sugar Industry Conclave-2026 here.
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S Gurmeet Singh Khudian received the awards from Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
The Batala Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd secured second position in Financial Management (Other Recovery Area), while Fazilka and Budhewal Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd secured second positions in Best Cane Development. Nakodar Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd secured second and Bhogpur Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd third position in Technical Efficiency.
Khudian said, "under the leadership of Chief Minister S Bhagwant Singh Mann", the government was promoting modern techniques to increase sugarcane productivity, improve recovery and reduce cultivation costs. He termed the awards a matter of "great pride for Punjab".
He said growers receive Rs 416 per quintal, including Rs 68.50 subsidy. Sugarcane area rose from 1,11,818 hectares in 2025-26 to 1,16,131 hectares in 2026-27, with around 700 lakh quintals expected.
PAU experts, the Agriculture Department and mills have trained about 15,000 farmers through 320 camps. A Rs 3,200-per-acre incentive supports demonstration plots, while machinery is provided at 40 per cent subsidy. Punjab Cooperation Department Secretary Ajit Bala Joshi and Sugarfed MD Dr Senu Duggal were also present.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.