Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated India’s first cooperative multi-feed Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant in Kopargaon, Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra. The event was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, among other dignitaries.

The facility has been set up at the Maharshi Shankarrao Kolhe Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana and marks a historic first in India’s cooperative sugar sector. Shri Shah stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Centre will extend full support to 15 cooperative sugar mills through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to establish similar CBG and potash granule production units across the country, creating a sustainable model for future sugar mills.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to farmers, Shri Shah noted that the Union Cabinet recently launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, with Rs 113.4 billion to be invested over six years to make India self-reliant in pulse production. Farmers producing arhar, urad, and masoor who register with NAFED and NCCF will have their entire output procured at 100 per cent of the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The initiative will benefit around 20 million farmers, establish 1,000 processing units, and distribute 3.8 million high-quality seed kits nationwide.

He added that MSP rates have been increased by Rs 300 per quintal for masoor, Rs 250 for mustard, Rs 225 for gram, Rs 175 for barley, and Rs 160 for wheat. Over the past 11 years, MSPs have risen significantly—2.5 times for jowar and bajra, and doubled for tur, moong, soybean, and cotton.

Under the recent GST reforms, the Modi government has reduced the GST to 5 per cent on essential agricultural machinery such as tractors, harvesters, sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, and poultry and beekeeping equipment, as well as on organic pesticides and natural menthol, directly benefiting millions of farmers.

The new CBG plant, established with an investment of around Rs 550 million, will produce 12 tonnes of CBG and 75 tonnes of potash daily using jaggery and molasses. Shri Shah said these products, previously imported, will now be produced domestically, furthering India’s self-reliance in clean energy.

He praised the Maharshi Shankarrao Kolhe Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana for becoming an exemplary model of a circular economy, integrating ethanol, biogas, and fertiliser production. He urged other sugar mills to follow this model and transform their ethanol units into multi-feed facilities capable of producing ethanol from vegetable waste, maize, and rice. The Government of India and the Maharashtra government will jointly support these efforts.

Shri Shah also lauded the Sanjeevani Group for its contributions to green energy and women’s empowerment, including integrating 100 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), launching fisheries for 1,000 farmers, and establishing Sanjeevani University for 20,000 students. The group also set up India’s first rural call centre, providing local employment opportunities.

He said that the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation by Prime Minister Modi has revived the rural economy and strengthened India’s cooperative sector, which is now emerging as a vital pillar of national growth.

Shri Shah reiterated Prime Minister Modi’s call for swadeshi adoption, urging citizens and traders to avoid foreign-made goods. He emphasised that the collective purchasing power of 1.4 billion Indians can propel India to the top of the global economy. He further noted that under Modi’s leadership, India has moved from the 11th to the 4th largest economy and is on course to become the third-largest soon.