Nepal’s Sweet Business Slowly Turning Bitter

KATHMANDU (ANI) – Nepal’s traditional sweet business, Chaku (molasses), made from jaggery, is facing a growing challenge: a shortage of workers. This could widen the gap between demand and supply in the coming years. Rohit Shrestha (19), the fourth generation in his family to continue the Chaku-making tradition in Tokha, a town on the outskirts of Kathmandu, explains that despite his commitment, he’s planning to seek opportunities abroad after completing his studies.

Tokha, known for its high-quality molasses, is seeing a decline in the number of workers as more youth migrate abroad in search of better opportunities. The industry is seasonal, with peak production lasting only two months a year. However, the rising trend of international migration is already impacting local industries.

Tokha, a historic settlement dating back to the Malla period, once thrived on the production of molasses, a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts. The process, which involves melting jaggery, stirring, and cooling, produces the popular sweet, often consumed during Maghe Sakranti.

Rohit’s family factory, which employed 20 people last year, now has only 11 workers, including his family members. Buddha Shrestha, Vice-Chairman of the Tokha Traditional Chaku Conservation Society, noted that the demand for Chaku continues to rise, but the worker shortage is hindering supply.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, nearly 84,000 Nepalis left for foreign work between mid-November and mid-December 2024, a record high. The majority of these migrants head to Gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, with many being skilled workers. The migration surge has led to a significant rise in remittances, which reached Rs 521.63 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year, a 9.1% increase from last year.

The growing trend of migration, especially among skilled workers, is creating a labor gap that may affect traditional industries like Chaku production in the long term.

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