Kerala government rejects Mandya jaggery; stops supply

The neighbouring state of Kerala, the largest purchaser of Mandya jaggery, has claimed that the product supplied now is substandard and not fit for human consumption, stalling the supply, according to sources.

Recently, Gujarat had rejected a jaggery consignment and had stopped purchase. Kerala is the second state to do so. Kerala is distributing jaggery under the Public Distribution System (PDS) for ration cardholders.

Mandya district, which is popularly known as ‘The Land of Sugar’ (Sakkarenadu), is now in trouble for producing poor quality and chemical-heavy jaggery.

Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) traders were supplying jaggery under the brand ‘Mandya jaggery’. According to a trader, as banned chemicals and sugar content were found in jaggery making, the Kerala government has rejected Mandya jaggery. Hence, hundreds of lorries, that had transported jaggery, have returned. Only three days ago, the food safety officials had raided the APMC godowns and had seized adulterated and substandard jaggery. Later, aalemanes (jaggery units) and trading companies, manufacturing and selling adulterated jaggery, have closed shops.

According to the sources, traders and some jaggery making units are involved in the largescale business, misusing the brand. They are allegedly getting poor quality jaggery from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, adding sugar and chemicals in the units to increase production and sell it under the ‘Mandya jaggery’ brand.

Aalemane Owners’ Association president Somashankaregowda said, “Around 90 kg of jaggery can be manufactured from one tonne of sugarcane. But, some people are adding substandard jaggery and sugar to increase production by another 30 kg. The people from other states and a few traders are misusing the brand name of Mandya jaggery”.

The APMC system is for selling farmers’ produce. But, selling adulterated jaggery from other states has raised suspicions. APMC president Prema Thimmegowda said the products can be sold at any market in the country. But, the traders are directed not to sell jaggery from other states for the benefit of local farmers, she said.