714-717Jaggery is a sugar
rich product and medicine obtained by evaporation of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) juice or sap obtained from Palmyrah
palm (Borassus flabellifer L.), Date
palm (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Phoenix
dactylifera L.) or Coconut palm (Cocos
nucifera L.). Among all Jaggery, palm Jaggery having its own importance. It
usually contains 65-85% sucrose and 5-15% reducing sugars, and is consumed
directly or used for preparation of sweet confectionary items and
ayurvedic/traditional medicines, and it may have a role to reduce the chance of
lung cancer. It is a good source of minerals like calcium, phosphorous and iron.
Jaggery industry is one of the most important cottage level industries in India since
ancient times and it is prepared mostly by small and marginal farmers. Besides India, countries like Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Burma
and Philippines
are also manufacturing Jaggery