SV Naik Kochari: Fifty Fruitful Years with Sankeshwar Sugar Factory

SV Naik Kochari is a simple, humble gentleman having completed fifty fruitful years in the Sugarcane and Sugar mill industry. In fact, his entry into the co-operative sector was accidental, thanks to the encouragement of the late Appanagouda Patil, a visionary of Sankeshwar town in Belagavi district. It goes to the credit of Appanagouda Patil in setting up the Hukkeri Taluk Co-operative Electric Society. Hiranykeshi Cooperative Sugar Factory for the overall development of the region including the welfare of educated and unemployed youths. He was instrumental in setting up a variety of educational institutions to make his dream come true. In a freewheeling chat, the hesitant SV Naik Kochari goes down memory lane to recall the journey trodden so far. Excerpts from the interaction:

Q: How did you plunge into public life and when was it?

SV Naik Kochari: It was in the year 1973 when I was studying in the first year of the three-year LLB law degree course. Ours is basically an Agricultural family and our father was into farming activities. We were three brothers and I was the eldest among them having some interest in Agriculture. Initially, I completed my Primary education at our native village Kochari and high school level up to Matriculation in Hukkeri and Sankeshwar. Although I dreamt of becoming a Scientist, my continuous failing health let me down in accomplishing the same. Despite adverse health conditions all along, I was still able to finish a BSc degree. In spite of enrolling on the Law course, compelling health conditions enabled me to complete the course in two years…

…Unanimously elected to Electric Society: Thanks to the visionary late Appanagouda Patil and his foresighted projects of setting up a series of institutions including the Hukkeri Taluk Rural Electric Co-operative Society, APMC Market Yard, Hiranyakeshi Co-operative Sugar Factory among many others made me think over the same. His support and guidance also led to an urge in me to contest the elections of Hukkeri Taluk Rural Electric Co-operative Society. However, thanks to the blessings of Appanagouda Patil, I was unanimously elected as a Director in 1973. This is how my public journey started fifty years ago.

Q: How about your entry into the Hiranyakeshi Co-operative Sugar Factory?

SV Naik Kochari: Induction into the Hukkeri Taluk Rural Electric Co-operative Society was a stepping stone for me to involve myself in the co-operative sector for a lifetime. After the tenure was over I was nominated as a Member of the Taluk Land Tribunal for two and a half years. My stint in the Co-operative sector began with wholehearted support and guidance from Appanagouda Patil and LK Khot. When the original Congress party was split paving the way for the formation of the Indira Congress and Samstha Congress or Congress (Organizational), I was made the General Secretary of Belagavi District Congress (O) Committee and worked in that capacity for some time. It was in 1995, with the help, support and blessings of the Katti family I was elected as a Director of the Hiranyakeshi Co-operative Sugar Factory for a term of five years. Again with the blessings of the late Vishwanath Katti and Ramesh Katti brothers, I was continued as a Director of three terms of five years each.

Q: What are your hallmarks of accomplishments during your association with the Hiranyakeshi Co-operative Sugar Factory?

SV Naik Kochari: I have been striving in my own manner to fulfil the aspirations of Appanagouda Patil keeping in mind the principles behind setting up of the institutions. He wished that the Sugar factory would be useful for the farming community and that the children of this region should not be deprived of employment. Initially, Umesh Patil and later Pralhad Patil contributed their mite to building the institution. Later, I also served as Chairman of the factory for five years…

…Day in and day out for the benefit of farmers: During my five-year term as a Chairman, I have tried to be of service to the farmers of 337 villages which come under the jurisdiction of the factory. All villages of Hukkeri Taluk, some villages of Gokak Taluk and other villages of Belagavi district come under the purview of the factory. Hence, all efforts are made to ensure that the growers face no difficulties, let it be harvesting of the Sugarcane, transportation, billing and payment. Earlier farmers used to undergo a lot of hurdles in cutting the crop and transporting the same to the factory premises. To accomplish the set aims, I have worked day in and day out to cater to the requirements of the peasant community. I have done my duties in the most sincere way possible to see that the growers are not put to unnecessary hardships by visiting all the 337 villages and attending to their woes.

Q: What were the highlights of achievements during your tenure as the Chairman?

SV Naik Kochari: Before I took over the cane crushing capacity was 3,000 Metric Tons. This capacity was enhanced to 5,000 MT initially and later raised to 6,000 MT. A cogeneration project for electricity generation was commissioned and now we have a unit with 52 Mega Watt capacities. This unit was started with the guidance of the late Umesh Katti and Ramesh Katti as these days Sugar factories can be made viable only with the help of by-products and not by selling Sugar alone. Now the factory is running successfully under the chairmanship of Nikhil Katti, son of the late Umesh Katti. We have also introduced a new by-product Ethanol. They have also drawn up plans to increase the number of by-products so that the shareholders are benefited in a big manner.

Q: Health experts keep warning that 16 chemicals are deployed to make Sugar which ultimately leads to Cancer. What is your take on the same?

SV Naik Kochari: Agreed. But, at the same time, some chemicals are inevitable while manufacturing Sugar. For instance, Sulphur. We are forced to add Sulphur for colouring as people want the Sugar brighter in colour apart from being in bigger crystal forms. The customers don’t inquire what ingredients are made use of or mixed while making Sugar but are very particular that it is the Whitest in colour. We tried to make Sugar using a lesser number of chemicals when it became brown but there were no takers in the market for such quality Sugar. So, inevitably we are compelled to use chemicals and more so Sulphur for coloring. The rates of Sugar also keep changing rapidly in the open market and many a time there are no takers at all for Sugar. In order to dispose of the available quantity and meet the market requirements we need to add chemicals. These days Sugar mills have started reaping profits with a range of by-products like Bagasse, Molasses, Press Mud, Ethanol, Spirit and Co-generation etc.


-Manohar Yadavatti