For farmers in Nanong Gewog in Pema Gatshel, this time of the year is considered the right time for extracting sugarcane juice to produce jaggery. But this year, the extraction works are getting delayed as the machines are under repair. Tshatshi Guram or jaggery is one of the main sources of income for people of Nanong Gewog.
Almost all the farmers of Nanong and Gashigkhar-Tshatshi Chiwogs in Nanong Gewog grow sugarcane. But for sugarcane juice extraction, they depend on the extraction plant located in Zhingri village in Nanong Chiwog.
It has almost been a month since the machines were not functional. Villagers say the machine’s motor is under repair.
And this has worried the farmers as the harvest and extraction works are getting delayed.
“Extracting sugarcane juice has become easier so, I have cultivated more sugarcane. But this time, the machine is not functioning. So, if the harvest season gets delayed, there will be less juice and we cannot make jaggery as well. We, the farmers are facing difficulty,” said Jamtsho, a farmer.
“The animals and insects started destroying the sugarcanes. And if this continues, we might lose it all. Earlier, we use to earn twenty, forty and fifty thousand ngultrum depending on the size of the land,” said Dawa Norbu, another farmer.
Tashi Tobgay, Nanong Tshogpa said “officials from Khangma came here but they couldn’t restore it. So, they said we have to send it to Samdrup Jongkhar. And one of the motors was sent to India. We will send a vehicle to get the motor and I hope we can provide the service to the farmers within a week.”
While the machine is being repaired, a few farmers are extracting sugarcane juice using a traditional method, locally known as Criti. But this is more laborious and time-consuming.
“There is a certain period when we should make jaggery. So, if we don’t make it right now, we cannot produce good ones. So, that is why we are extracting the juice by using the traditional method, Criti,” said Tashi Tobgay, a farmer.
After harvesting sugarcane, the juice is extracted. The villagers then make jaggery by boiling the juice till it solidifies.
Villagers say there is no dearth of customers as they sell it in nearby districts.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Tshering Zam
