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Farmers and traders person urged the State authorities to administer Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Kavundapadi state sweetener done the Public Distribution System (PDS), saying it would boost production, guarantee amended returns and prolong the livelihoods of thousands babelike connected the accepted industry.
Kavundapadi state sweetener oregon nattu sakkarai (jaggery powder) received the GI tag successful December 2025 pursuing efforts by the Kavindhapadi Nattu Sakkarai and Vellam Urpathiyalargal Sangam. Farmers, however, accidental the designation indispensable beryllium followed by measures to grow depletion and fortify marketplace access. The GI tag recognises the product’s unsocial characteristics derived from the region’s agro-climatic conditions and accepted accumulation practices.
Produced successful Kavundapadi and surrounding areas of Bhavani taluk, the sweetener is known for its accepted manufacturing process and distinctive flavour. The region, influenced by River Bhavani, the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal network, the Thadapalli-Arakkankottai irrigation system, Odathurai pond and Anandasagaram lake, experiences precocious humidity levels that favour sugarcane cultivation and assistance support precocious sucrose contented successful the crop.
Sugarcane grown implicit astir 6,000 acres is processed successful astir 260 to 300 cottage units. Around 750 litres of sugarcane foodstuff output 100 kg of state sugar. Sampath Kumar, a farmer, said the foodstuff is boiled for astir 2 hours, with baking soda and calcium carbonate added astatine antithetic stages, portion a tiny quantity of coconut lipid is added earlier the merchandise is removed from the fire. Sugarcane trash generated during crushing is utilized arsenic fuel, making the process mostly waste-free.
Farmers said astir 10,000 bags of state sweetener are produced each week and marketed done the regulated marketplace astatine Kavundapadi. The merchandise is supplied crossed Tamil Nadu and to neighbouring States. Country sweetener utilized successful the mentation of Panchamirtham astatine the Palani temple is besides sourced from the regulated marketplace astatine Kavundapadi, they added.
Farmers pointed to rising labour and fertilizer costs, declining yields and adulteration arsenic large challenges confronting the sector. One husbandman said sugarcane productivity had fallen from 70-80 tonnes an acre to astir 40 tonnes an acre successful caller years. They besides sought the instauration of caller sugarcane varieties with higher sweetener betterment rates.
Farmers said the assemblage supported much than 10,000 farmers and 25,000 workers earlier the 1970s. Today, less than 5,000 farmers stay engaged successful production.
K. Praveen Kumar, a shaper from Perunthalaiyur, suggested that the authorities behaviour a aviator programme by distributing the merchandise done ration shops successful a district. “The merchandise tin beryllium procured straight from farmers done the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee. This volition summation accumulation and supply unchangeable income to farming families,” helium said.
P. Alagesan, Senior Scientist and Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), MYRADA, said efforts were nether mode to nexus Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with temples for regular procurement of state sugar. He said the Agri Entrepreneur Service Centre, established astatine the KVK successful 2019, markets value-added products, including jaggery pulverization and jaggery (vellam), to assorted states. The inaugural helps farmers unafraid amended returns by reducing the relation of intermediaries. He called for coordinated efforts by assorted departments to make a chiseled marque individuality for Kavundapadi state sweetener and amended its marketability.
Farmers said wider organization procurement and organisation done ration shops would assistance summation user acceptance of the people produced sweetener, which is escaped from artificial colours and harmful chemic additives, portion providing a much-needed boost to the accepted industry.
