Mysuru: Jaggery producers in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts have reason to rejoice as the price of jaggery has witnessed a remarkable twofold increase in these regions, according to a report by The Times of India.
The jaggery production faced several challenges, including a scarcity of sugarcane for crushing, a shortage of laborers, and unseasonal rainfall. As a result, the price of jaggery has doubled during this season.
At the APMC and other jaggery markets in the twin districts, the price of jaggery has surged from Rs 3,000 per quintal to a range of Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000 per quintal due to a significant demand-supply gap.
Both Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts are renowned for jaggery production, with farmers cultivating sugarcane across approximately 33,000 hectares of land. Sugarcane is sent by farmers to jaggery production units as well as sugar mills for crushing. The region boasts around 550 alemanes (jaggery-producing units), including 298 in Chamarajanagar district alone. Traders from Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Rajasthan actively purchase jaggery from these districts.
The substantial increase in jaggery prices has brought joy to local jaggery producers, who have faced various hurdles during the production process.
