Madurai: Procurement of poor quality jaggery from northern India and distributing the same for gifts inhibiting pongal through PDS outlets resulted in complaints flowing to the same, the Tamilnadu Foodgrains Association of Limited Traders stated in a letter to Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday.
The association stated that writing to CM on November 18, 2021, to test the quality of jaggery that would be distributed along with 20 other items as a pongal gift for the ration card holder.
They have warned the quality of low jaggery and how the quality will stand exposed in just two weeks.
Videos and photographs of poor quality jaggery shared on social media and the incident also attracted criticism from the opposition.
Association traders also held officials at the field level in the department concerned responsible for the low quality of jaggery distributed as a pongal gift.
Quality and characteristics of jaggery from northern India are lower than jaggery from Tamil Nadu in characteristics such as taste and texture, the association president S P Jeyapragasam said.
He urged CM to procure jaggery from Tamil Nadu in the future for the benefit of local agriculturists.
The trade agency also tries to classify pure jaggery and people with additional sugar.
Salem, Namakkal and Cimahi Regency contribute 90% of the jaggery sugar cane production in Tamil Nadu.
“Along with sugar cane juice, white sugar and maida are also added to make jiggery.
Jaggery is like losing its characteristics such as texture within seven days of production.
Over the years we have requested food security and standard authorities to classify and announce jaggery such as different food products.
Body traders stated that it must be classified by different food standards.
But there is no permanent solution until date, “he said.
Jagadean said that there was an order to keep CCTV cameras in the Jaggery production unit and doubt the level of compliance.
The association repeats the demands for the classification immediately jaggery made with sugarcane juice as sugar cane jaggery and made of palmyrrah juice as palmyrrah jaggery.
On the other hand, the jaggery made with white sugar must be classified as a different food product with different standards.