Patna: Bihar government has launched an online portal enabling eligible farmers to apply for membership in the proposed Primary Sugar Mill Cooperative Societies linked to cooperative sugar mills at Sakri in Madhubani district and Raiyam in Darbhanga district.
The portal was inaugurated on July 2 by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit in the presence of Cooperative Department Secretary Dharmendra Singh, Registrar of Cooperative Societies Rajnish Kumar Singh, and Additional Registrar Vikas Kumar Bariyar.
Online Membership Process Begins
Eligible farmers can submit applications through the Cooperative Department’s online portal at https://esahkari.bihar.gov.in/coop/Sugarcane. The application window will remain open until July 30, 2026.
According to the department, membership will provide farmers with access to agricultural inputs required for sugarcane cultivation, technical guidance, soil testing services, government schemes related to agriculture and sugarcane development, sugarcane procurement in line with state policy, and a transparent payment system for sugarcane prices.
Government Says Initiative Will Strengthen Rural Economy
Speaking at the launch, Pratyaya Amrit said the proposed cooperative sugar mills are intended to promote farmers’ economic development while generating employment and supporting rural growth.
He said introducing a digital membership process would make enrolment transparent, simple and accessible for farmers.
Eligibility Criteria for Farmers
The Cooperative Department has laid down eligibility conditions for membership in the proposed societies.
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be residents of the notified operational area of the respective sugar mill.
- Be existing sugarcane growers or undertake to cultivate sugarcane during the next two crushing seasons.
- Have at least 100 decimals of land for sugarcane cultivation in the general category, while the minimum requirement is 50 decimals for reserved category farmers and women farmers.
- Ensure that only one member from each family applies.
The department said the entire application process has been designed to be transparent and time-bound, allowing farmers to complete registration online without visiting government offices.
Sugar Mill Project Progress
The government said the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd. (NFCSF), New Delhi, has submitted both the feasibility report and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for establishing the proposed cooperative sugar mills.
Officials said further action on setting up the two mills is being taken on a priority basis.
Operational Areas Cover More Than 2,400 Villages
To ensure an adequate supply of sugarcane, the government is constituting Primary Sugar Mill Cooperative Societies by bringing together local sugarcane growers.
According to the Sugarcane Industries Department, the proposed operational areas include 1,018 villages under the Raiyam Primary Sugar Mill Cooperative Society and 1,383 villages under the Sakri Primary Sugar Mill Cooperative Society.
Farmers Asked to Apply Before July 30
The Cooperative Department has appealed to all eligible farmers in the notified areas to complete their membership applications before July 30, 2026.
Farmers requiring assistance with the online application process can contact their Block Cooperative Extension Officer, District Cooperative Officer, or the respective organising committee, the department said.
