Tuesday, October 6, 2015 www.deccanherald.com
Spectrum From grassroots to galaxies
Yakshagana Kendra in Udupi is popularising the traditional art form. P2
HYGIENIC & NUTRITIOUS (Clockwise from top left) A view of the Organic Jaggery Park, Mudhol; C P Chandrashekhar, head of the Park, with farmers at a sugar cane farm; jaggery stored at the Park; organic jaggery packed & labelled; a stage of jaggery production. PHOTOS BY AUTHOR & ORGANIC JAGGERY PARK COLLECTION
A healthy twist to jaggery BEST PRACTICE The Organic Jaggery Technology Park in Mudhol, the first-of-its-kind in the country, has raised the quality bar in the jaggery industry. It has boosted farmers’ morale through sugarcane varietal research, chemical-free jaggery production and grower-trader linkage, finds out Anitha Pailoor
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odium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrosulphite and phosphoric acid are some of the chemical clarificants that you would be consuming while you savour a nutritious jaggery recipe. The strange combination of healthy nutrients and harmful chemicals in jaggery is made by producers to please the consumers who have an eye for bright colours. An unmindful preference for light yellowcoloured jaggery has resulted in the indiscriminate use of chemical clarificants, much above the permissible level, during production. This practice not only makes this nutritious sweetener unhealthy, but also affects its taste and storability. Sweet initiative Producers’ preference for synthetic additives as clarificants has also affected organic sugar cane growers. “The struggle to get our turn at the alemane (jaggerymaking unit) was more tedious than growingthecroporganically,”saysSanganagouda Patil, a farmer in Mudhol taluk. He explains how difficult it was to persuade alemane owners to process sugar cane without chemicals. After all the effort, if they didn’t find a suitable market, they had to sell it at the regular market. But the situation has changed since 2013 thanks to theOrganicJaggeryTechnologyPark,better known as Organic Jaggery Park, that has been set up in Mudhol. This jaggery-processing unit is one of the three units — the other two are in Mandya and Sankeshwar — set up by a collaborative project, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), of the State and the Central Government in 2013. The main intention of the Park is to ensure hygienic, chemical-free processing of jaggery. “The unit works just like a mill. Farmers bring their sugar cane, pay a nominal fee and
hygienic and efficient. This results in highquality production,”says Chandrashekhar. They have installed fuel-efficient furnaces, designed by the scientists of the Indian Inn India is the largest producer of jagstitute of Science, Bengaluru, which has gery; Karnataka stands at number reduced the fuel requirement conthree in jaggery production in the siderably. The traditional belt-dricountry. ven crusher is replaced by energy n Chemical .clarificants are used in the efficient gear-driven crusher. A fourproduction of jaggery to make it atstage filtering of the juice removes most tractive. High sodium content makes it of its impurities. The unit has state-ofhard and salty. the-art facilities like a roofed storage space n Not much research has been done on for sugar cane, high-quality stainless steel pans and utensils, a hygienic store room the ill-effects of industrial chemicals for jaggery and a well-equipped lab. Natfound in jaggery. ural lime, herbal clarificants like ladies finn Organic jaggery produced in a hyger mucilage and edible oil are used in the gienic set-up is tasty, nutritious and process, ensuring the safety of the product. safe. The Park has a storage space where farmers can keep the product and sell it get it processed. Marketing is their respon- as and when there is a demand. Preference sibility,” says C P Chandrashekhar, head is given to organic farmers. If the jaggeryof the Park. But farmers know that it’s not processing unit is unoccupied, farmers just that. The Jaggery Park is supporting them in multiple ways. Be it creating a network of farmers, developing sugar cane varieties suitable for jaggery, or facilitating market linkage, the Jaggery Park has made a promising beginning. The popularity of the Jaggery Park is the result of its continuous efforts to support better-quality jaggery production since the project was initiated in 2010. A team led by Chandrashekhar studied various jaggery-making units of Karnataka and Maharashtra and brought home solutions for most of the problems affecting the jaggery industry in the region. “We incorporated better technologies to ensure that the process is
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Natural sweetener
who apply chemical inputs are allowed to access it. But the Park maintains its policy of chemical-free jaggery production. “There are three types of jaggery — chemical jaggery (chemical inputs are used at all stages), chemical-free jaggery (the crop is grown with chemical inputs while the processing is free of chemicals) and organic jaggery (free of chemical inputs at all stages),” explains Chandrashekhar. Farmers of Mudhol, Jamakhandi, Bagalakote and Mahalingapura taluks make use of the facility. In 2013 the Park produced 27 tonnes of jaggery while in 2014
Culture of co-existence
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akshmeshwar, which exhibits the State’s rich heritage through its ancient religious structures, is also known as Tirulugannada Nadu. The place was a Jain stronghold for a long time before the Chalukyas of Kalyana propagated Shaivism. Islam was introduced when the Adil Shahis of Bijapur ruled the region. Thus present day Lakshmeshwar has a temple, a basadi, a mosque or a dargah at a corner of almost every street. The Someshwara Temple, located in the heart of the town, is an interesting structure. It is said that a 6-century basadi existed at the place prior to the construction of the Temple. The temple complex is being renovated by the Infosys Foundation, Bengaluru. The project director, a retired official of the Archeological Survey of India, took us around. He said that a statue of a jain thirthankara on a parapet wall of the Temple is an indication of the its jain heritage. The architectural beauty of an open well, located behind the Temple, is beyond words. A board placed near- BEAUTIFUL Shankha Basadi in Lakshmeshwar, Gadag. PHOTO BY AUTHOR by says that this stepped well was constructed by Gowrambika in 11th century. idol of Shiva and Parvati riding on a bull linga. Though the outer walls of the Temple (Nandi). Shiva is sitting in front while ParIntricate designs vati is sitting behind him, side-ways, and have intricate designs they are in a sad The doorway to the temple complex is yet can only be seen through a mirror placed state now. Many have been defaced while another remarkable structure with beau- at the back of the idol. The deity is called some have been corroded due to nature’s tiful sculptural details. The sculpture of a as Saurashtra Someshwara as the idol is vagaries. The kirtimukha motif is used all dancing Ganesha is appealing. The main believed to have been brought by a mer- over. The uniquely shaped vimana (tower) Temple is at the centre of the complex and chant from Saurashtra. This is considered is decorated intricately. Shankha Basadi or Neminatha Basadi, there are smaller shrines around it. The to be the only place where Shiva is worTemple houses a beautiful and unusual shipped in the form of an idol and not as a another important structure of the town,
is tucked away in the midst of a residential quarter and is quite inaccessible. Localites seemed ignorant about the Basadi. The front facade of the Basadi is plain and white-washed. But the side walls of the mantapa of the Basadi are alluring. They are completely adorned with sculptures, not an inch is spared. A panel of erotica runs throughout and it is bordered by a creeper motif on top and flower motif below. This place is worth a visit as it is believed to be the place where Adikavi Pampa composed his two major works — Adi Purana and Vikramarjuna Vijaya. Later, I set out to find the Jumma Masjid built in 17th century by the Adil Shahis. The Masjid, which is on a main road, is famous for its Indo-Saracenic architecture and numerous stone-chain links. I spent some time in the peaceful environs of the Masjid marveling at the stone work that adorns its walls. There are many more monuments in Lakshmeshwar, that are steeped in history, but are completely ruined or lost in the midst of a growing town. Still Lakshmeshwar, the land of art and literature, retains the essence of Karnataka’s heritage. It is the cradle of Jainism, Hinduism and Islam, the three major religions that flourished in Karnataka and shaped its history, and these structures stand as a testament to the co-existence of cultures. Lakshmeshwar is about 550 km away from Bengaluru and is connected by road. Rijutha Jaganathan
the quantity increased to 90 tonnes. The jaggery is not bleached and the colour remains brown. Sometimes the shade of jaggery alters based on the variety used. The Park produces different types of jaggery including one-kg lump jaggery, locally known as pente bella, jaggery powder and jaggery pellets. Jaggery powder, which could be used instead of sugar, is popular among urban consumers. The shelf life of pente bella is six months while jaggery powder can be stored for two years. The jaggery is sold at Rs 50 per kg at the Park’s outlet. Mudhol to Moscow The Jaggery Park has also tried creating market links for growers. It recently facilitated farmers to export 50 tonnes of jaggery pellet to Russia through Alexander Usanin, a trader, who appreciated the hygiene maintained during jaggery production and preferred organic to chemical jaggery. Shrinivas, who hails from a farming family in Mahalingapura taluk, has launched a new brand, Arogyanics, to sell organic jaggery produced at the Park. The product is now available at select outlets in Bengaluru. “Initially retailers were hesitant to purchase the product. After a few weeks they started approaching me with
orders. Now we struggle to balance production and demand,” he says. Another firm, Sepra Exim, sells the product in Hyderabad. Jaggery is also sold locally. Some of the traders have shown interest to export the product to UK. The Park is also engaged in research to develop varieties that are suitable for jaggery production. A recently introduced variety, SNK 7680, meets the long-time demand of farmers for non-flowering sugar cane. The RKVY project ended in March 2015 and now the Organic Jaggery Park is run with funds from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The efforts of the Jaggery Park has renewed farmers’ interest in organic cultivation of sugar cane and chemical-free jaggery production. Venkatesh, a young farmer, has shifted to organic cultivation of sugar cane since 2013 and has even set up a organic jaggery production unit. Some farmers, who earlier prefered selling sugar cane to sugar factories, opt for jaggery production and contact the Park. Jaggery production, though involves marketrisk brings more returns to farmers . The Park plans to develop an organic jaggery cluster in the region and encourage youth to collaborate. C P Chandrashekhar can be contacted on 7829165693.
FROM HERE & THERE Wheels of revolution
was invited by Gangadhar Rao as part of the Gandhi Seva Sammelana. He stayed in the village for seven days. Other leaders like udali, a remote village located Vallabhbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu in Belagavi district, is known also participated in the event. for its association with Mahatma Over 10,000 people are said to Gandhi and efforts to realise his have congregated at Hudali to meet dream of self-reliance. Gandhi, making it one of the largest In 1927, freedom fighter and events in the khadi movement’s Gandhian Gangadhar Rao Desh- history. Since his visit to Hudali, the pande began a khadi unit at the khadi movement gained momenKumari ashram near Hudali. It is tum and spread to the neighbouring considered to be one of the earliest districts as well. khadi unit set up in the State. The Later the khadi unit gave way to khadi unit in Hudali was estab- the Khadi and Gramodyog lished to further the cause of the Sahakari Sangh Ltd which was set Satyagraha Ashram that Mahatma up in 1954. The Society has been Gandhi had set up at Sabarmati, manufacturing khadi and other Gujarat in 1915. By then, khadi had products and has given employment become an integral part of the free- to hundreds of people in the village dom movement. and the surrounding villages. One Gangadhar Rao was instrumen- can find rare photos of Mahatma tal in popularising the khadi move- Gandhi’s visit and important events ment in the State. He is said to have of the freedom movement displayed travelled extensively from village to at the Smaraka Bhavan of the village to create awareness about Society. the significance of khadi and enToday, Hudali continues to be a courage people to be self-reliant. Gandhian village following the Impressed by the efforts of the ideals of the Mahatma in all possible people of Hudali, Mahatma Gandhi ways. visited the place in April 1937. He Pooja Mahesh
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