Ahead of the harvest festival of Pongal, the districts of Salem, Dharmapuri, and Namakkal in Tamil Nadu are witnessing a significant surge in jaggery production. With the festival falling on January 15, hundreds of local manufacturing units have intensified operations to meet the soaring seasonal demand.
Production Scales to Meet Festival Demand
These three western districts, known as the jaggery heartland of the state, house several hundred production units. Currently, they are collectively churning out an impressive 50 to 70 tonnes of jaggery every single day. Producers confirm they are inundated with orders from traders across Tamil Nadu, compelling them to scale up their daily output significantly.
M Govindarajan, a jaggery producer from Kabilarmalai in Namakkal district, shared insights into the current market dynamics. "We are able to sell about 30 tonnes daily from our operations," he stated. He pointed out that a standard 30kg bag of jaggery is currently priced between ₹1,380 and ₹1,410. Govindarajan also indicated that this price is expected to rise further after December 25, as the festival approaches.
The Hub of Trade and Economic Impact
The daily produce from across the region converges at the central Jaggery Mandi located in the Shevapet area of Salem. Here, the jaggery is sold through a systematic auction process to wholesalers and distributors. Industry experts highlight that Salem and Dharmapuri are particularly crucial, as they are the only districts in the western region that cultivate sugarcane on a large scale specifically for jaggery production.
The economic footprint of this industry is substantial. According to local wholesalers, more than five lakh (500,000) people benefit directly or indirectly from the jaggery production cycle in these three districts, underscoring its role as a major livelihood source.
Vigilance Against Adulteration
Amidst the production boom, food safety authorities are ensuring quality control. Officers are conducting surprise inspections at key production clusters. These include units in Tharamangalam, Omalur, Kamalapuram, and Deevattipatty in Salem district; Harur, Bommidi, and Pappireddipatty in Dharmapuri district; and Kabilarmalai and Jedarpalayam in Namakkal district.
An official source confirmed that samples collected from both the mandi and individual units are being tested in laboratories to detect any adulteration. The regulations are strict: jaggery units are prohibited from using sugar, hydros, bleaching powder, and super phosphate in the manufacturing process. "If adulteration is found, action will be taken. If prohibited substances are used, criminal action will be initiated against the units under the Food Safety Act," the source warned. This vigilance aims to ensure that the traditional sweetener reaching homes during Pongal is pure and safe for consumption.
