Sugarcane cultivation for jaggery production might turn out to be a viable proposition for the farmers who have left their paddy fields fallow/idle for many years as paddy cultivation turned uneconomical.

Farmers can cash in on the growing demand for jaggery in Kerala, which is met mostly by supplies from outside.

Successful mission

J Sanjeev, Krishi Officer, Sugarcane Research Station, Pandalam, said his experiment at the station has proved that sugarcane cultivation for jaggery would be remunerative.

He said the station started in 1963 with sugarcane farming on 25 acres of land, when the state was having sugar mills in the region, was incurring heavy loss following closure of the mills after they became unviable.

In 2003, the total annual expenditure to run the station stood at ₹27 lakh while the total revenues were at ₹3 lakh, incurring a loss of ₹24 lakh.

But, ever since this establishment has chalked out a plan to cultivate sugarcane on five hectares for jaggery production and to use the other five hectares for production of planting materials/seeds/ seedlings etc, the experiment turned beneficial and its annual income has multiplied.

Last fiscal, total revenues touched 2.44 crore with a profit of ₹44 lakh.

GI tag

According to Sajeev, from five hectares of the sugarcane farm, 350 tonnes of sugarcane and from it 35 tonnes of jaggery (pure) could be produced. Branded as ‘Pandalam jaggery’, it has received Geographical Indication tag as ‘Central Travancore Jaggery.’

He said it has a captive market now because of its hygiene and superior quality. Regular customers include major Ayurvedic drug manufacturers, temples, churches and caterers.

Sajeev, who successfully experimented Basmati rice cultivation in Alappuzha district some time ago under a government project, said sugarcane cultivation is not labour intensive.

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