Jaggery production in Mandya is estimated to be less by at least 65% this season as non-availability of sugarcane has been haunting the traditional ‘aalemanes’ or jaggery-making units.
The arrival of jaggery at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) market in the town has registered a downward trend for the last two months because of ‘aalemanes’ suspending production. Of the registered 530 units across all seven taluks, at least 65% are facing acute shortage of sugarcane and over 50% have become non-functional in recent weeks, officials at the District Industries Centre and Department of Agriculture said.
The arrival of jaggery declined by around 50% in the last few days, said D.R. Pushpa, secretary, Mandya APMC. Speaking to
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Currently, the prices are quoted at ₹3,500 to ₹4,050 a quintal at the APMC in Mandya, Ms. Pushpa said.
The trend is mainly attributed to lower acreage of sugarcane and farmers switching over to less water-intensive crops as Mandya district is witnessing severe drought for the sixth consecutive year.
A target of cultivating sugarcane on 24,829 hectares was set for the current season. However, just 3,100 hectares have been covered till Saturday, said sources in the Agriculture Department.
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The district has five sugarmills. While first grade of the produce is supplied to mills, the remaining cane is procured by the ‘aalemanes’.
While a small unit can produce around 2 quintals of jaggery a day, big units can produce up to 35 quintals. There is a greater demand in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for bucket-shape, box-shape and cube-shape jaggery that is produced in Mandya.