This research paper highlights the importance of human resource practices in selected sugar factories. Human resource is one of the most vital assets of an organization. It makes the other resources move and provides a wide variety of activities in different functional areas. Human resource handles all physical and financial resources in an organization. Without its efforts, the non-human resources remain idle. The sugar industry plays a very significant role in the development of rural areas. The economy of western Maharashtra and its vicinity is highly dominated by the sugar industry situated in this area. This paper examines the role of human resource workforce (organized – managerial level and below-managerial level staff and unorganized – sugarcane cutters) and its contribution to the development of sugar factories. It also examines the human resource practices adopted by the selected sugar factories from cooperative and private sectors. This study covers the areas of Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Belgaum districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka states.

Sugar industry is the second largest industry in India after the textile industry. It plays a very prominent role in the development of the Indian economy. It is believed that India is the original home of sugarcane. Nowadays, sugar production and consumption has expanded dramatically, so a number of people are getting employment opportunities directly and indirectly from this sector. The most outstanding feature of the industry is its vital link between the sugar factory and the cultivators, whose interests are interdependent.

Sugar industry is labor-intensive, employing a good percentage of people, covering both organized and unorganized human resources. As in the case of any other industry, sugar industry employs multi-skilled workers at different levels of management. It is of prime importance from the management perspective to utilize the skills of the employees in optimum manner.

Human resource practices are concerned with people employed in the organizations of private, public or cooperative sectors. It deals with the process of developing people in accordance with their aspirations and to suit the organizational needs. Human resource can be used as a means for developing other resources in a proper manner. Therefore, human resource practices affect the overall performance of the organization. Particularly, in the sugar industry, human resource plays a vital role. The sugar industry plays a significant role in the development of rural areas. The sugar industry is classified into two categories—private and cooperative. Both the categories require human resource for successful functioning.

Management Research Journal, Human Resource Practices, Sugar Factories, Cooperative Sectors, Human Resource Workforce, Private Sectors, Management Process, Inventory Management, Human Resource Management, Irrigation Department, Sugarcane Cutters, Unorganized Sector, Manpower Selection Process, Private Sugar Sector.