Mysuru: Sugarcane farmers are shifting to organic cane cultivation which is used for black jaggery production as the demand for jaggery is increasing in the market, reports The Times of India.
According to agriculture department officials, 17,130 hectares of area in Mysuru district and 7,127 hectares in Chamarajanagar district is under cane cultivation, and out of this 1-2% of the total area is under organic sugarcane cultivation.
“The demand for organic jaggery is increased as it is chemical-free and healthy. We get good returns for producing and selling black jaggery. This is the major reason for farmers shifting to organic jaggery making in these districts,” said a jaggery producer from Yelandur taluk.
State Sugarcane Growers Association president Kurubur Shanthakumar said, “The government should encourage cane growers to take up organic cane cultivation by announcing incentives.”
