Bagalkot: The pride of the country, ‘Jaggery Land’ (Jaggery Market), which once served as a sweet treat to the tongues of people from Arab countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and other foreign countries, is now in a bitter time for Mahalingapur.
Caught between the shock of the amendment of the Agricultural Act, rampant cess fraud and competition from sugar factories in the district, this centuries-old jaggery market is in danger of losing its very existence.
Jaggery that was exported to foreign countries is now in the doldrums:
Mahalingapur APMC in Rabakavi-Banahatti taluk of Bagalkot district is very famous for selling jaggery. Thousands of tons of jaggery were exported to the state, foreign countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Arab countries, Sri Lanka and abroad. The Mahalingapur market, which used to distribute sweet jaggery, is facing difficulties today. After the new APMC law was implemented in 2021, which allows farmers to sell agricultural products if they want, the jaggery trade has been hit several times. Even after the law was withdrawn, the market has not recovered. Due to this, jaggery traders have turned to other jobs. Only a handful of traders are making a living by selling jaggery.
Earlier, 400-500 tons of jaggery were exported through 40-50 trucks per day. Now, only 4-5 trucks per day, that is, only 40-50 tons, are being exported. Although APMC is allowed to sell without paying cess and bringing it to the market, jaggery is being sold outside, evading the cess. If APMC has suffered losses due to this, jaggery traders have also suffered losses. Jaggery traders have accused APMC officials of being negligent in taking action against those who sell by cheating on cess.
Porters’ hunger for food: Traders turn to other professions
This has hit not only the traders but also the porters. Hundreds of porters had relied on the jaggery market for their livelihood. Their lives have also been affected. Earlier, there was a lot of work. Now, the trucks are not coming. Porters are complaining that it is difficult to feed themselves. Hundreds of porters who depended on the market are struggling without work. Jaggery production has also been hit by the 13 sugar factories in the district.
Mahalingapur, which was famous for its jaggery market in Karnataka, has lost its former glory today. The market needs to be revived and traders and porters need to be saved. Through this, the glory of the Mahalingapur jaggery market needs to be restored.