Rajkot: Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the revival and modernization of the Kodinar and Talala sugar mills at a function at Kodinar in Gir Somnath district on Saturday.
Shah said the revival of these mills by Indian Potash Company will lead to the economy of the area being developed and will open the doors to prosperity for 10,000 farmers.
He said, “Because of the starting of these sugar mills, ethanol and gas will be produced by them. The ethanol will reduce India’s petroleum imports, and because of the export of ethanol, farmers will become global biofuel producers. Farmers who are known as food providers will also be known as energy providers.”
Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled the age-old demand for starting a cooperation ministry, and more than 60 crore farmers will benefit from it.
Indian Potash Company will work to provide farmers seeds for sugarcane, try to increase productivity, provide sophisticated equipment and work to start gas production. Shah expressed confidence that because of these activities, farmers will prosper.
Shah said that in 2012-13, 60 crore people in the country depended on agriculture, and the budget of the central govt for agriculture was Rs 22,000 crore, while the Modi govt increased this to Rs 1.37 crore in 2023-24. Farmers used to get loans of Rs 8.5 lakh crore in 2012-13, which increased to Rs 25.50 lakh crore today.
The mills in this area will start crushing cane from Nov 1, 2025.
Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of various projects at Brahmanand Vidhyadham in Junagadh district on Saturday. He dedicated to the nation the building of a Sainik School and laid the foundation stone of Pujya Muktanand Bapu Medical College and Research Institute. In a function at Chaparda village, Shah also inaugurated the Sainik School staff quarters building, Jay Ambe Hospital doctors’ quarters and modular operation theatre complex.