EXPLORING THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF JAGGERY PRODUCTION AND MARKETING: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR SUGARCANE GROWERS IN NARSINGHPUR DISTRICT OF MADHYA PRADESH

P.S. KOURAV¹, K. BISHT²*, P.K. SINGH³, S. SHRIVASTAVA^4
1Department of Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
²Department of Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
³Principal Scientist, ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
⁴Department of Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
* Corresponding Author : kouravprashantsingh@gmail.com

Received : 07-12-2022     Accepted : 28-12-2022     Published : 30-12-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 12       Pages : 12119 - 12121
Int J Agr Sci 14.12 (2022):12119-12121

Keywords : Sugarcane growers, Jaggery processing, Marketing, Constraints
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Department of Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India and Principal Scientist, ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The sugarcane industry is a vital agro-based industry in India, with sugarcane growers making up a significant portion of the rural workforce. However, the industry faces various processing and value addition constraints such as high labour costs, power supply issues, inappropriate weather conditions, and low jaggery recovery from sugarcane, among others. Furthermore, the marketing of jaggery and its products is hampered by fluctuations in market prices, lack of storage facilities, and the influence of middlemen and commission agents. This study conducted in Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh aimed to identify the challenges faced by sugarcane growers and to suggest solutions to these challenges. Study findings suggest that the most significant challenges faced by sugarcane growers in jaggery processing and value addition are high labour costs and a shortage of labour, inappropriate weather conditions, and power supply issues. Meanwhile, the main marketing constraints are fluctuations in jaggery market prices, lack of storage facilities, and the influence of middlemen and commission agents. To overcome these challenges, various solutions such as subsidizing jaggery manufacturing machinery and equipment, providing credit to jaggery producers before the start of the season, ensuring a sufficient and regular supply of electricity and providing jaggery storage facilities. In addition, minimum support price for jaggery and jaggery products will help to reduce price volatility, reducing the influence of commission agents in the market

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