Social Impact

Jaggery - The Medicinal Sugar
India’s One of the Oldest Rural Cottage Industry

Jaggery is the major & one of the oldest rural cottage industries of India, operated by farmers with dependence of more than a million farmers and employment to 2.5 million rural people. Jaggery is a common product in Asian and African countries; however, almost 70% of the world’s Jaggery comes from India. Practitioners of Indian Ayurvedic medicine have been using Jaggery for thousands of years. Jaggery is the best exportable healthy & natural sweetener with multiple health benefits.

check Strengthens Immune System
check Increases Energy Level
check Rich Source of Iron & Calcium
check Detoxifies Your Body
check Aids in Digestion

Jaggery: The Major Rural Cottage Industry of Kolhapur

Kolhapur district of Maharashtra state is known for producing best quality Jaggery since the 18th Century. Kolhapur Jaggery is GI tagged since 2014 for its unique characteristics and regional heritage — primarily its goldenish-brown color, sweetness, and the traditional methods of its production.

  • The specific color and unique sweetness of Kolhapur Jaggery is attributed to the careful removal of dark molasses during processing.
  • The Jaggery is made using traditional methods, including the use of local sugarcane varieties and specific processing techniques, which are a part of the region's cultural heritage.
Jaggery Capital
Jaggery Capital of India
GI Tag
GI Tagged Product
ODOP
One District One Product
Rank
Ranks 1st in Quality & 2nd in Quantity
Export
Exported to Over 44 Countries
Farmers
100,000+ Farmers Depend on Jaggery

Major Challenges to Survive the Wind of Industrialization

Unhygienic Production Processes
Low Profitability
Less Energy Efficiencies
Post Production Losses
Lack in Product & Packaging Innovation
Low Marketability
Inconsistent Rate

Jaggery: Growing Market Demand

Jaggery is accepted by consumers since ages due to its health benefits. Earlier, its use was limited to certain localities & festivals. Recently Jaggery has emerged as a major grocery product replacing refined sugar, especially post-COVID due to its immunity properties. In 2024, Jaggery has taken 30% sugar consumption share and is predicted to increase in the next 5 years.

In spite of growing demands, this self-reliant Jaggery cottage industry, responsible for the socio-economic development of rural communities, is trying to survive the wind of industrialisation. Failing to do so, many units are shutting down.

PureMe’s R&D team identified technological gaps in these units leading to low profitability, lack of standardisation, adulteration, and lack of product innovation — all contributing to low marketability. Belonging to the Jaggery capital of India, we took this challenge to restart these shut down units and increase Jaggery's market appeal using technology.

Jaggery Market Demand

PureMe’s Solution to Jaggery Rural Cottage Industry

PureMe works with a decentralised production system using a unique ecosystem-based model targeting the entire value chain — from process/product/technology development to market capture. PureMe has developed an innovative & sustainable solution covering production, post-production & packaging as follows:

Technological Upgradation & Upscaling of Existing Units
Energy Efficient Processes
Standardised Production & Processing Protocols as per GMP and FSSR to control Adulterations
Defined Storage System Solution to reduce Post Production Losses in Jaggery
Value Addition to Jaggery to increase its Nutritional Value

Impact Created

Upgraded Units

0

Jaggery Units Upgraded Technologically

Farmers Restarted

0

Jaggery Farmers Restarted their Units

Crop Support

0

Crop Management Support to Farmers

Workshops

0

Agricultural Workshops Conducted

Training

0

Training to Rural Unskilled Women

Employment

0

Employment to Rural Women

SUSTAINABLE IMPACT

Talks Delivered

Jaggery Dhep 1kg
Jaggery Cubes
Jaggery Dhep 0.5kg
Jaggery Bites
Jaggery Dhep 0.25kg
Jaggery Powder

Recommendations

Dr Yashwant Thorat

Former Chairman, NABARD, India

It is my pleasure to recommend Dr. Sharmmili for her venture, PureMe Organics Pvt Ltd. I have been mentoring her since 2022 and observing her closely working on problems faced by rural cottage farmers through Agrotech Commercialisation. It is commendable how Dr Sharmmili enthusiastically worked with rural farmers at grassroots levels and came up with the solution for Jaggery cottage industry. She is setting up an example on how one can take the society along with self through her startup, which is working on creating a sustainable ecosystem for Jaggery processing and Jaggery supply chain informatics network. Dr Sharmmili is highly focussed and purpose driven entrepreneur. Her business model is unique which engages with farmers directly and also with the consumers with innovative products. Her meticulous attention to details has resulted in brand recognition.

I believe she is the perfect candidate to promote Jaggery research and given an opportunity she can take her vision of “For the Community, by the Community, led by Women Entrepreneur” in India to the next level.

Prof. M Moni Madaswamy

Professor Emeritus & Chairman, Centre for Agricultural Informatics & e-Governance Research Studies, Shobhit University, Meerut, UP

I have interacted with Executives of M/s PureMe Organics Private Ltd and am appreciative of their innovative jaggery products (chemical free, naturally grown, non-hygroscopic and increased shelf life) from the ‘Jaggery Capital of India’ (Kolhapur). Recently I also interacted with rural youths from the families of sugarcane productions in and around Madurai (Tamilnadu) who desired to get into jaggery products at their farmgates, rather than sending sugarcanes to sugar mills and waiting for payments, but they have shown their confidence on non-availability of appropriate technologies and capacity building programme.

M/s PureMe Organics Private Ltd has emerged as a potential and sustainable AgriStartUp in the region and as a leader. They have established a sustainable model for on-farm processing and production activity. I strongly recommend for recognition with appropriate support by MANAGE, to M/s PureMe Organics Pvt. Ltd for emerging as a “Model AgriStartUp” in Rural India.

Dr. Saravanan Raj

Director (Agricultural Extension), National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad

PureMe Organics is a Startup incubated at MANAGE–CIA, Hyderabad under the RKVY RAFTAAR Program by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. PureMe is a Technology based startup that innovates new products and processes from Sugarcane and other sustainable agriculture sources. Dr. Sharmilee Mane has established PureMe Organics; which is like a social enterprise to help the farmers.

Her depth of knowledge in the process of sugarcane, good research & innovation skills and social responsibility is appreciable. It is commendable, that Dr. Sharmilee is enthusiastically working with rural farmers and coming up with the solution for the Jaggery cottage industry. Her mission, vision, and motto to support the farmers and women is laudable. I would like to strongly recommend her for the FICCI Agri Startup Award 2022 in Women Entrepreneurs Category.

Dr. Shivakiren Makam

CEO, Atal Incubation Centre, Sri Krishnadevaraya University (AIC–SKU), Anantapur, A.P. India

PureMe Organics Pvt Ltd is a startup established by Dr. Sharmilee Mane with the purpose of #Redefining Sweetness. PureMe is a technology-based startup that innovates new products and processes from sugarcane. It has recently launched jaggery powder in sachet, jaggery peanut butter and jaggery cubes. They also explore different sources of sugars apart from sugarcane such as palm, coconut, fruits and others.

PureMe has received several awards and recognitions from Govt. It is currently incubated at Atal Incubation Center–Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur. PureMe is also awarded a grant under RKVY scheme and financial support under ODOP scheme by Govt of India. PureMe is one of the fastest growing and highly focused startup. Their business model is also unique since it has connected with the farmers directly in the process and pass the benefits to the farming community. PureMe actively engages with the customers in co-creating innovative products.