Pune: At a time when several jaggery production units in Pune district face scrutiny for unethical practices, one family-run business in Pimpalgaon (Daund taluka) is setting a benchmark for purity and tradition. For the past 30 years, farmer Bapurao Natu has been producing chemical-free, high-quality jaggery using eco-friendly methods, gaining recognition both in India and abroad.

Unlike many units that burn plastic and old footwear as fuel or mix sugar and chocolates to increase jaggery weight, the Natu family's processing facility maintains purity without the use of harmful substances. As a result, their jaggery is in demand across the United States, Dubai, Ireland, Australia, and major Indian cities.

Established in 1995 on a 20-guntha farm near the Mula-Mutha River, the Natu family's jaggery unit has continued to thrive despite growing competition from non-local traders. Today, over 400 jaggery units in Daund taluka are run by migrant businessmen, but very few farmers continue to produce jaggery traditionally. Among them, the Natu family has emerged as a leader.

For the past 15 years, Bapurao Natu’s sons—Santosh, Satish, and Rajesh—have been actively involved in expanding the business, ensuring quality control and modernization. More recently, the third generation, Tejas Natu, completed a food processing course and introduced further advancements.

Modernization with a ₹20 Lakh Investment

In 2019, to meet growing market demand, the Natu family invested ₹20 lakh to modernize their jaggery production facility. Key upgrades included:

• A dedicated sugarcane juice storage system

• Two large boiling pans to ensure efficient processing

• Filtration systems to remove impurities from sugarcane juice

• A steam-based jaggery-making process for better quality

• Hygienic packaging handled by trained workers

"We have been in this business for three decades, and our success lies in understanding customer needs. Even if we earn slightly less, we refuse to compromise on quality. That’s why we don’t rely on marketing—our customers come directly to us," said Tejas Natu, third-generation entrepreneur.

Diverse Product Line & Growing Demand

Apart from traditional jaggery, the Natu family produces a variety of organic products, including:

• Chemical-free jaggery blocks & cubes

• Organic liquid jaggery (Kakavi)

• Jaggery powder

• Peanut and sesame-based jaggery sweet

Business Growth & Financials

• Daily processing capacity: 12 tons of sugarcane

• Monthly revenue: ₹18 lakh

• Monthly expenses: ₹16.5 lakh

• Net profit: ₹1.5 lakh