Abdul Latif is the owner of the traditional organic jaggery-making plant situated close to the Mission School, Delhi-Haridwar Road, Manglaur (nearby Roorkee), Haridwar (Uttarakhand). He has been making jaggery for 45 years and running his own jaggery plant for the last 37 years. During the visit to the plant along with Chandan, the guide, I had queries about the Sugarcane crop and the process of jaggery making. Abdul showed us the plant and enhanced our knowledge about sugarcane, products, processes, and finally, the sale. The summary:

• Sugarcane, once planted, produces a crop for 2-3 years.

• Sugarcane is planted in the month of Phagun, i.e., February-March.

• November is the month when harvesting is done and the jaggery-making process starts.

• 1st May is the last date for making jaggery, and by that time, sugarcane is also finished.

• Jaggery making and Sugarcane crops actually are a seven-month job in a year.

• 11-12 kilos of jaggery is made from one quintal of sugarcane.

• Currently, sugarcane (as per crop variety) is Rs. 260/90/70/40 per quintal.

• Jaggery is sold into the Manglore market at a price of Rs. 2800/3000 per quintal.

• At the plant, jaggery is sold at a price of Rs. 35 per kilo.

• Chaaku, Dhelli, Laddu, Pappdi, and Khand are a few design names made at the jaggery plant.
• Shakkar is also made a few times, which costs Rs. 38/40 per kilo.

A Short Biography of Dhanvantari – This photo was taken at Patanjali Yogpeeth, Delhi-Haridwar National Highway in Haridwar (Uttarakhand).

A Short Biography of Maharishi Charak – This photo was taken at Patanjali Yogpeeth, Delhi-Haridwar National Highway in Haridwar (Uttarakhand).