There has been a sudden spurt in the prices of jaggery for all grades at the Anakapalle jaggery market yard in Visakhapatnam district prior to Sankranti festival, according to trade sources.

The best grades are selling at Rs.280-300 per 10 kg – a sudden spurt of Rs.400-500 a quintal during the week. Traders said this was triggered by the decision of the AP Government to supply a pack of all essentials including half kg jaggery to the white ration card-holders as a sankaranti gift christened Chandranna Kanuka.

Therefore, there has been a sudden demand for jaggery not only at Anakapalle but also at Mandya in Karnataka and also Maharashtra. “The State Government has so far procured 6,500 tonnes of jaggery and the trend will continue till Sankranti and there is likely to be a correction afterwards,” said jaggery trader K Butchi Raju.