Nlepsu Chang with his wife at the jaggery production site. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Longra | February 18
Nestled in the hills of Tuensang district, the village of Longra is making a name for itself with its unique and thriving jaggery (gur) production. For generations, the villagers have been crafting this unrefined sugar, and now, it's not only a local delicacy but a crucial economic driver.
Longa village falls under Noksen Sub-Division of Tuensang District and borders Longleng District on the north and Mokokchung District on the West. Longra village is known for production of the best quality paddy and preservation of Stag within its community forest. It is also known for its orange production and also excels in paddy, orange, and areca nut cultivation.
From juice to jaggery
Over 70% of the villagers engage in jaggery production, transforming the sweet cane juice into golden-brown blocks of gur during the months of January to March. “This is something our forefathers taught us,” says Nlepsu Chang, a 57-year-old farmer and village head (Gaon Bura). “Each year, gur production helps us earn enough to support our families. I produce more than one thousand kilos of gur per season and earn enough to help my children during admissions especially with school admissions coming up.”
“After the end of the jaggery production season, we tend our orange farms in the month of April when the orange trees flowers and then shift to our wet rice fields from May,” Nlepsu further explained.
The village has three designated jaggery production spots, each equipped with a sugarcane grinding machine. Known as ‘Haidai’ in Chang language, on an average, a single producer can manufacture up to 150 kg of jaggery daily. The traditional process involves slow-cooking sugarcane juice in custom-made iron pots for nearly four hours. The flat iron pots are made in Mokokchung and the making of one pot costs about ten thousand rupees.
The final product is packed in bamboo baskets and sold in bulk to buyers from Mokokchung, Tuensang, and Longleng districts. While the traditional bamboo baskets are still used, some villagers have recently adopted tin foil packaging. However, this new method presents its own challenges. “It's tricky to pack the jaggery in the tin foils without making a mess,” admits Jungshi Chang.
100% Organic
Yangchu Chang, a 33 year old graduate from Sao Chang College and father of two daughters, is one of many villagers who have seen the benefits of jaggery production. “I was able to collect and sell a large quantity of jaggery this year,” he says. “The fact that it is 100% organic makes it even more appealing to buyers.”
He also emphasised the profitability of jaggery production despite its labor-intensive nature. “We hire laborers to clean the sugarcane fields at least four times a year, which is expensive, but our earnings make it worthwhile,” he said. Sugarcane is cultivated in one area for three years before being shifted to a new location to maintain soil fertility.
The owners of the grinding machine charge Rs 20 per tin of sugarcane juice. “We begin making jaggery as early as 3:00 am and often work until 11:00 pm, sometimes even midnight,” says Sangbou Chang, whose family owns one of these machines. In the Mokden area, about 45 rely on a single grinding machine. “We use a lottery system to determine our turn to grind sugarcane,” Sangbou explains. “Our workday's length depends on the number we draw – it's often a matter of luck.”
Rewarding Process
For the residents of Longra village, the first three months of the year are dedicated to the labour-intensive but rewarding process of jaggery production. This period coincides perfectly with school admission season, and many villagers expressed relief that the money earned from selling jaggery helps them cover these essential education costs.
Mongba, a government employee from Longra, highlights the village's fertile land and hardworking community. “We are blessed with everything from sugarcane and oranges to areca nuts and high-quality rice,” he says. “The jaggery production provides a crucial income boost during the off-season, supplementing our agricultural activities.”
Longra's jaggery production is more than just a business; it's a testament to the village's rich heritage and entrepreneurial spirit, sweetening the local economy one batch at a time.
