<p>Bengaluru: As the auspicious harvest festival of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/makar-sankranti">Makar Sankranti</a> approaches, markets are buzzing with activity, with people flocking to buy essential items such as <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/sugarcane">sugarcane</a>, jaggery (bella), fried gram, peanuts, sesame seeds, rice, and coconut.</p>.<p>This year, the demand for sugarcane has resulted in higher prices compared to last year as excess rainfall impacted its production.</p>.<p><em>DH</em> visited several markets to gauge the festive mood in the city.</p>.<p>Umraz Khan, a sugarcane farmer with fields in Hosakote and Channapatna, said, “Sankranti is our busiest time of the year, with demand peaking. From January 10 to 14, we work 24 hours a day.” He added that prices have risen by Rs 100, particularly for black sugarcane, which is in high demand for the festival.<br><br>Shahid Khan, another farmer, explained his challenges. “I transport my produce to Bengaluru and other nearby towns, making about 40 trips during this season. Last year, a bundle of 10 sugarcanes was priced at Rs 400, but this year, due to rising costs, it’s gone up to Rs 500.”</p>.<p>Despite paying Rs 7,000 for transportation, he noted that the price hike barely covers the costs. “While a small increase helps with expenses, our profits remain low. We don't want to burden customers by raising prices too much,” he added.</p>.A sweet Malenadu legacy.<p><strong>Sweet beginnings with jaggery</strong></p>.<p>Black (kappu) sugarcane, typically used for pujas, rituals and consumption, remains the most sought-after variety for Sankranti, while other sugarcane varieties are primarily used for juice extraction.</p>.<p>Jaggery (bella) is another key item for the festival, particularly for making ellu bella, a traditional mixture of sesame seeds, fried gram, peanuts, diced jaggery, and copra.</p>.<p>However, Shamil from Modern Departmental Store noted, “The demand for bella has decreased due to complaints about poor quality, compounded by reduced production. Prices have gone up as a result, but demand has surged with Sankranti around the corner. There is also an increased demand for fried gram.”</p>
<p>Bengaluru: As the auspicious harvest festival of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/makar-sankranti">Makar Sankranti</a> approaches, markets are buzzing with activity, with people flocking to buy essential items such as <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/sugarcane">sugarcane</a>, jaggery (bella), fried gram, peanuts, sesame seeds, rice, and coconut.</p>.<p>This year, the demand for sugarcane has resulted in higher prices compared to last year as excess rainfall impacted its production.</p>.<p><em>DH</em> visited several markets to gauge the festive mood in the city.</p>.<p>Umraz Khan, a sugarcane farmer with fields in Hosakote and Channapatna, said, “Sankranti is our busiest time of the year, with demand peaking. From January 10 to 14, we work 24 hours a day.” He added that prices have risen by Rs 100, particularly for black sugarcane, which is in high demand for the festival.<br><br>Shahid Khan, another farmer, explained his challenges. “I transport my produce to Bengaluru and other nearby towns, making about 40 trips during this season. Last year, a bundle of 10 sugarcanes was priced at Rs 400, but this year, due to rising costs, it’s gone up to Rs 500.”</p>.<p>Despite paying Rs 7,000 for transportation, he noted that the price hike barely covers the costs. “While a small increase helps with expenses, our profits remain low. We don't want to burden customers by raising prices too much,” he added.</p>.A sweet Malenadu legacy.<p><strong>Sweet beginnings with jaggery</strong></p>.<p>Black (kappu) sugarcane, typically used for pujas, rituals and consumption, remains the most sought-after variety for Sankranti, while other sugarcane varieties are primarily used for juice extraction.</p>.<p>Jaggery (bella) is another key item for the festival, particularly for making ellu bella, a traditional mixture of sesame seeds, fried gram, peanuts, diced jaggery, and copra.</p>.<p>However, Shamil from Modern Departmental Store noted, “The demand for bella has decreased due to complaints about poor quality, compounded by reduced production. Prices have gone up as a result, but demand has surged with Sankranti around the corner. There is also an increased demand for fried gram.”</p>