Natural brown jaggery makers in Pollachi-Udumalpet belt look for technology and marketing support from the government

Sugarcane farmers in Pollachi-Udumalpet belt, where natural brown jaggery is produced by a small enterprising section of cultivators at cottage level, have sought government support through financial, technology and marketing support systems.

In recent years, farmers who used to supply sugarcane to the Amaravathy Cooperative Sugar Mill, have been left with limited options after the unit turned defunct. One section has shifted to paddy and coconut crops, and a segment continues to supply the sugarcane to mills located elsewhere in the State, according to officials.

A small section that has chosen to manufacture of jaggery is looking for government support to sustain their ventures. According to the farmers, natural brown sugar is procured by wholesale agents for sums ranging from ₹55 to 60 a kg, which they say leaves them only with a meagre margin.

More than 40% of the sugarcane produce in the Western region is converted into jaggery, according to the farmers.

However, not all are conversant with the juice clarification process for gur making without use of chemicals.

Since the colour of the jaggery is a determinant of its value and marketability, farmers, according to Nagaraj, an Udumalpet-based farmer, continue to use chemicals, by and large, in the clarification process.

According to officials of the Agriculture Department, they have been apprising the farmers about the technology developed at Sugarcane Research Station, TNAU, Melalathur, for bringing about the accepted colour through use of slaked lime solution along with the mucilaginous extract of wild bhendi / bhendi as clarificant. The officials also point out that there is a degree of reluctance on the part of farmers to try out new methods.

Farmers, on their part, emphasise that putting in place a procurement system and dissemination of technologies for automation of gur-making process, and increasing shelf life of the natural brown sugar beyond two to three months will go a long way in sustaining their ventures.