GULMI: “Thorgeli Gund’ (jaggery) produced in Thorga located in Rural Municipality-3 of Ruru area of Gulmi has now been established as a ‘brand’.
In this area, which has been cultivating sugarcane for 150 years, ‘Thorgeli Gund’ (jaggery) has succeeded in making a separate identity in the market after the establishment of a sugarcane processing center with the initiative of the rural municipality and the support of various organizations.
The sugarcane processing center, operated by the Ruru Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, started regular production from February this year.
According to the chairman of the cooperative, Bheshraj Gyawali, so far the industry has sold more than 9,700 kg of sugarcane worth about Rs 2,460,000.
Similarly, 5,472 liters of sugarcane worth more than Rs 1,095,000 and 15 kg of chocolate worth Rs 5,200 have been sold.
In the past, a small number of farmers used to cultivate sugarcane on limited land because sugarcane was made and used locally using traditional technology.
But now, with the establishment of an industry with modern machines, sugarcane farmers are excited.
“The number of sugarcane farmers has also increased since the establishment of the sugarcane industry. Currently, the total number of farmers cultivating sugarcane in Ward No. 3 and 4 alone is around 400, while around 100 farmers are selling sugarcane to the cooperative,” said Gyawali, chairman of the cooperative.
“Currently, sugarcane is being cultivated on an area of 3,200 ropanis in the Ruru area. Whereas, until 2074 BS, only around 800 ropanis were cultivated there.”
According to the cooperative, sugarcane worth Rs. 3.1 million has been purchased since last November.
Sugarcane purchased at Rs. 12 per kg in the fields is now being processed into sugarcane at the rate of Rs. 260 per kg. The industry has also provided employment to locals. Currently, eight employees are working there on a monthly salary. The industry still has 50 to 55 thousand liters of raw milk. Sales managers have been appointed in some places, including the local Ridi Bazaar.
Established with the grant support of the rural municipality and in collaboration with organizations such as Heifer International Nepal, this industry was equipped with modern crusher machines, furnaces and some manpower from Gujarat, India.
People were brought from India to build the structure of the industry and install the machines.
According to the industry manager Prakash Thapa, after the number of students at Janapriya Primary School in Darsingbas decreased, the industry was established using its physical infrastructure. Currently, the industry is being operated by local workers and commercial production is also ongoing.
“There is no problem in crushing capacity, the capacity to cook raw milk has increased. There is no problem in packaging and marketing,” says Thapa.
The industry has also brought in a ‘frame’ (a container that gives raw milk chocolate shape) for chocolate production. Thapa said that there are plans to gradually increase chocolate production.
(Inputs from RSS)
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