Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh: Although the new crushing season for sugar mills is still some time away, the production of jaggery has already begun at jaggery units, reports Amar Ujala.
Jaggery units on Budhana Road have started processing sugarcane to produce jaggery. However, due to the crops not being fully ripe, sugar is being added to the jaggery to enhance its sweetness.
In the village of Harsauli, sugarcane crushing typically begins on September 1 each year. However, this year, jaggery production started early on Monday. Mustakeem, who operates the jaggery units, explained that a farmer in Shahpur had sold his land along with the crop to a contractor. As sugarcane harvesting began on the land, supply issues arose. Farmers requested that crushing start a week earlier than usual, prompting the early preparation of the jaggery units and the start of sugarcane purchasing. The harvested sugarcane from Shahpur is now being supplied to his jaggery units.
Despite the current lower sweetness levels, the jaggery units are buying sugarcane at a rate of ₹250 per quintal. The jaggery produced at the jaggery units is being sold at around ₹4,300 per quintal. After September 1, more local farmers are expected to start supplying their sugarcane to the jaggery units.
