Patna: Bihar government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a national sugar industry federation in a bid to revive its struggling sugar sector, expand cultivation, and modernise production through technology, including artificial intelligence.
The agreement was signed on Monday between the state’s Department of Sugarcane Industries and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd (NFCSF), New Delhi, at a ceremony in Patna under the state government’s Saat Nishchay-3 programme.
The MoU was formally signed by Joint Sugarcane Commissioner Jaiprakash Narayan Singh and NFCSF managing director Prakash Naiknavare in the presence of sugarcane industries minister Sanjay Kumar.
Speaking at the event, Kumar said the partnership marked a “significant milestone” for Bihar’s sugarcane economy, which he said had long struggled with low productivity, outdated infrastructure and underperforming mills. He described the agreement as “not merely a formal document” but a commitment to improving farmers’ incomes and reviving the wider rural economy.
The initiative falls under the Samriddh Udyog, Sashakt Bihar component of the state’s Saat Nishchay-3 programme, which includes plans to reopen defunct sugar mills and establish new units across the state. Officials said work on new facilities at Sakri and Raiyam is already under way.
Additional chief secretary K Senthil Kumar said the government, under the leadership of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, had begun work on reopening closed mills and setting up 25 new ones. He said ensuring a stable supply of sugarcane remained central to the expansion plans.
NFCSF president Harshvardhan Patil said efforts were focused on boosting production through improved seed varieties, modern irrigation methods, nutrient management and pest control, alongside the use of artificial intelligence in cultivation practices. He added that the federation would support the preparation of detailed project reports for upcoming mills.
The NFCSF said the collaboration aimed to strengthen Bihar’s sugarcane ecosystem and ensure adequate raw material supply for mills. Officials said the broader goal was to position the state as a major sugar-producing hub once again.
Among those present at the event were NFCSF representatives Chetan Bhai Patel and chief sugarcane advisor RB Dole, along with managers from several sugar mills, including Sidhwalia, Hasanpur and Bagaha.
Minister Sanjay Kumar said the state would work to convert “challenges into opportunities” in the sector and expressed confidence that the partnership would lead to a long-term revival of Bihar’s sugar industry.
