Amroha, Uttar Pradesh: The sugarcane crushing begun earlier than usual in the region, but the low sugar content in the sugarcane is forcing jaggery makers to add sugar, reported Live Hindustan.
Despite this, jaggery makers are hopeful that as the rains subside, the sugar content in the sugarcane will increase.
Chaudhary Haseen, a jaggery maker from Dhakkani village, said that they are currently extracting only 9 kilograms of jaggery from one quintal of sugarcane. The low sugar content is forcing them to add sugar to the jaggery. The sugarcane is being purchased at a rate of Rs 270-280 per quintal, while a quintal of jaggery is being sold for Rs 3800-4000 in the market. Haseen said that the jaggery makers are not making much profit at the moment but expect the profits to increase as the sugar content in the sugarcane improves.
