Lucknow: A research centre at the Indian Sugarcane Research Institute (ISRI) is working on developing protocols for quality jaggery manufacturing in accordance with FSSAI norms, said Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ramnath Thakur in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Replying to an unstarred question asked by MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy on jaggery production, he said that a centre under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Post-Harvest Engineering Technology at ISRI, Lucknow, is working on jaggery handling, processing, and storage, as well as developing protocols for quality jaggery manufacturing in line with FSSAI norms.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified standards for jaggery (gud) under sub-regulation 2.8.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, he added.
Jaggery is a recognised village industry and falls under the purview of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The sector is acknowledged for its traditional importance, nutritional value, and contribution to rural livelihoods, particularly in sugarcane-growing regions.
The government has launched schemes to promote the food processing sector, including jaggery, and to support the establishment of such industries. These projects are required to comply with FSSAI regulations and are encouraged to align with international food safety and quality standards to improve market access, including exports, he said.
