Kochi: A sweet revolution is unfolding on the banks of the Periyar River with the revival of a once-forgotten crop. To rejuvenate sugarcane farming in the Periyar river basin and restore the prominence of ‘Alangadan sharkara,’ the Ernakulam Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has established a jaggery production unit in Alangad, reported The New Indian Express.
“About 60 years ago, Alangad was renowned for its homegrown sugarcane and jaggery, which was even served at royal feasts,” says Shinoj Subrahmanian, principal scientist and head of KVK, Ernakulam. “However, high labour costs and the lack of technological advancements in farming led to the disappearance of sugarcane from the region’s agricultural landscape.”
Currently, most jaggery available in Kerala is sourced from outside the state, despite high demand for traditional, homegrown varieties like Marayoor sharara. “But Marayoor alone cannot meet the state’s demand,” Shinoj notes. This shortage prompted KVK to reintroduce and popularize Alangadan Sharkara. The primary goal is to produce chemical-free, high-quality jaggery and establish a branded marketing channel for Alangad jaggery, potentially earning it a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in the future.
The first sugarcane crop was planted in November-December 2022 and was ready for harvest the following December. KVK sourced CO86032, a high-yielding and disease-resistant sugarcane strain from ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore. “Initially, farmers were reluctant, but as we introduced the idea of a jaggery production unit, 11 farmers joined, and more followed,” Shinoj explains.
The team also visited Marayoor to learn traditional jaggery-making methods. “Harvesting began stage by stage in March-April and continues. The unit, established in February this year with support from Alangad Co-operative Bank, has a capacity of 80 kg per day, currently producing 25 kg of jaggery daily,” he adds.
With the harvest and production in full swing, more farmers are eager to join the initiative. The homegrown jaggery is now available for ₹180 per kg from the Alangad Co-op Bank.
