Coimbatore: Jaggery makers in the Erode district are worried as the demand for quality jaggery remains low despite a month left for the Pongal festival, reports The Hindu.
Around 100 jaggery production units are operating in Mullamparappu, Arachalur, Kavundapadi and Ammapettai areas in the district.
“The poor demand for jaggery apart from an increase in the labour cost and low price of our product has increased our worries,” said a jaggery producer in Mullamparappu.
The sugarcane cost is Rs 2,300 per tonne and we have to bear additional Rs 2,000 per tonne for transportation and other charges. Last year jaggery was sold at Rs 1,250 per 30 kg but the traders are demanding Rs 1,100 per 30-kg bag. We cannot afford to provide quality jaggery at this rate, he said.
“We are usually busy in December but this year we work for less than five hours a day as there is less demand for quality jaggery,” said another producer.
