Weak monsoon hits southern TN palm jaggery production, prices soar

Palmyra is a kind of palm tree that grows in southern India.

People collect a sweet liquid from the trees and boil it to make palm jaggery, called karupatti.

This year, there was not enough rain because a weather pattern called El Niño made the monsoon weaker.

The trees did not get enough water, so they produced less juice.

That means workers could make less jaggery.

Less jaggery makes it more expensive.

Jaggery that sold for 350 rupees a kilogram last month now sells for 400 rupees.

Other sweet treats, like palm candy and sillukarupatti, are more expensive too.

The dry weather affects thousands of workers, and shoppers have to pay higher prices.

Supplies are expected to shrink even more as the production season ends.