ENA State 2022-12-29 11:20:28 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Faridkot, Dec 29 (KNN)</strong> The usage of paddy straw as a fuel is turning out to be beneficial for jaggery making units in Faridkot district of Punjab and more and more farmers are shifting on to it, according to a report in The Tribune.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The primary reason for this shift by the farmers is owing to the difficulty to use bagasse as a fuel during cold wave conditions due to the high-moisture content in it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><a href="https://bit.ly/3B9mZSj"><img alt="FOLLOW US on GOOGLE NEWS" src="https://knnindia.co.in//uploads/gallery/GoogleNews.jpg" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:95px; margin:1px; width:299px" /></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Since a lot of fuel is needed for boiling of sugarcane juice in jaggery units (kulhadas), farmers have switched over to the easily available paddy straw. After extracting sugarcane juice in a conventional crusher, it is filtered and boiled in a shallow iron pan and allowed to cool down.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Although Punjab imports a huge quantity of jaggery from Uttar Pradesh every year, local jaggery-making business witnessing a boost as farmers hardly use chemicals to clean the impurities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Due to indiscriminate use of chemicals in the making of jaggery, this coarse sweetener is now no more a much-loved inducement for connoisseurs of good food, said Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Misson, an organisation promoting organic agriculture and farm products.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">In their attempt to manufacture quality jaggery, some farmers have started growing organic sugarcane. Abandoning chemicals helps in preserving minerals and vitamins, said Dutt.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Two decades ago, the jaggery cottage industry could be found in a cluster of every three-four villages.Once again, this cottage industry has witnessed a comeback in rural areas of Punjab.<em><strong> (KNN Bureau)</strong></em></span></p> 31745 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/state/usage-of-paddy-straw-as-fuel-boosting-jaggery-cottage-industry-in-faridkot-punjab 2022-12-29 11:20:28 knnindia.co.in