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The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) recently highlighted India's dominant position in global jaggery production, underscoring the sector's nutritional, economic, and export significance through a PIB release titled "The Superfood Sweetener."

India's Global Leadership

• India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production, cementing its status as the world's largest natural sweetener producer. Nearly 20–30% of the country's total sugarcane output — estimated at 444.9 million tonnes in 2024–25 — is diverted towards jaggery making. The sector supports approximately 2.5 million rural livelihoods through decentralised cottage industries, low-cost processing, and small-scale entrepreneurship.
• In terms of state-wise production, Uttar Pradesh leads with 48.5% of total output, followed by Maharashtra (24.1%) and Karnataka (10.5%), with other contributors including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.

What is Jaggery?

• Commonly known as gur, jaggery is a traditional, unrefined natural sweetener produced by concentrating sugarcane juice without chemical refining. Unlike white sugar, it retains essential minerals — calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese — along with trace vitamins including folic acid, B-complex, and vitamins A, C, D, and E. A good-quality jaggery contains over 70% sucrose, with approximately 5% mineral content.
• Its iron content (10–13 mg per 100 g) supports haemoglobin levels, making it valuable in addressing anaemia — a critical public health challenge in India.
• Its history dates to the Vedic period (1400–1000 BCE), with the word "sugar" itself derived from the Sanskrit sarkara, reflecting deep civilisational roots.

Export Performance

Jaggery exports have recorded impressive growth — rising by 106.5% in value (from USD 197 million in 2015–16 to USD 406.8 million in 2024–25) and 61.2% in volume. Major export destinations include Indonesia, the USA, the UAE, Nigeria, and Nepal. During April–January 2025–26, exports further grew by 15.9% in value year-on-year, reflecting strong and sustained international demand for natural sweeteners.

Government Policy Support

Several central schemes promote the jaggery sector:

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY): Five jaggery processing units approved with grants-in-aid of ?17.07 crore.
• PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme: 3,528 jaggery-based micro units supported with subsidies totalling ?102.31 crore, including 50% branding and marketing assistance to FPOs, SHGs, and cooperatives.
• One District One Product (ODOP): Jaggery identified as an ODOP product in 19 districts, facilitating value chain development.
• AGMARK Certification: Ensures quality standardisation, market credibility, and export readiness.

GI-Tagged Jaggery Varieties

India's rich regional diversity is reflected in its Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged jaggery products: Kolhapur Jaggery (Maharashtra) — prized for golden colour and high sucrose; Muzaffarnagar Gur (Uttar Pradesh) — export-oriented, made from high-quality cane; and Marayoor and Central Travancore Jaggery (Kerala) — recognised for purity, medicinal value, and traditional processing methods.