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 The Hindu on Saturday, she said: “The APMC used to get around 30 loads [around 2,400-2,600 quintals] of jaggery every day. But, the arrivals have been hovering between 1,200 and 1,300 quintals a day in recent days.”
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.
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.