El Niño-driven rainfall deficits have dealt a sharp blow to the traditional palmyra industry in southern Tamil Nadu, pushing palm jaggery (karupatti) prices to their highest levels in recent memory this season. The shortfall has hit thousands of workers and traders across Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi districts, while consumers grapple with steeply rising costs.

How the Shortage Unfolded

The padaneer (palmyra sap) collection season typically runs from January to February, when workers tap palmyra trees and boil the sap to produce karupatti. This year, however, inadequate rainfall during the previous monsoon and the subsequent summer months left palmyra trees moisture-starved, sharply reducing the volume of sap available for processing.

Workers in villages including Sayalgudi, Narippaiyur, Mariyur, Kannirajapuram, Melachelvanur, and Malattar — all in Ramanathapuram district — reported that production had fallen well below normal levels. With the current production season nearing its close, supplies are expected to tighten further in the months ahead.

Price Surge Across Varieties

In Sayalgudi, palm jaggery that was selling at around ₹350 per kg last month has since climbed to as high as ₹400 per kg. Traders warn prices could rise further once the season ends, particularly during the monsoon and winter months when consumer demand traditionally picks up.

The premium Udangudi karupatti from Thoothukudi district — smaller in size but widely regarded for its distinct flavour — commands even steeper rates. According to a local trader, old-stock Udangudi palm jaggery is currently fetching around ₹600 per kg, while freshly produced stock is priced at approximately ₹500 per kg. Palm candy (panangalkandu) is being sold at around ₹800 per kg, and sillukarupatti at roughly ₹600 per kg.

A Community Under Pressure

The palmyra-based industry is a cornerstone livelihood for thousands of families across southern Tamil Nadu. Ramanathapuram, which hosts one of the state's largest concentrations of palmyra trees, is a primary production hub. The district's karupatti is typically larger in size, while Udangudi's variety carries a premium reputation that draws buyers from across the region.

This year's crisis is notable because it compounds pre-existing structural challenges — the palmyra workforce has been ageing, with younger generations increasingly moving to urban employment. A weather-induced production shock therefore lands on an already fragile ecosystem.

What Comes Next

Traders anticipate that prices will remain elevated through the monsoon and winter seasons, when demand for palm jaggery and allied products traditionally rises. Unless the upcoming northeast monsoon delivers above-normal rainfall to replenish soil moisture around palmyra groves, the next padaneer season could also face reduced yields. Both workers and traders say government support — whether through procurement assistance or input subsidies — has not been forthcoming so far.