With the festive season underway in Karnataka, prices of sugar and jaggery have risen sharply, affecting households preparing sweets. Sugar prices, which were around Rs 45 per kg in the wholesale market last month, climbed before easing to Rs 63 per kg following government intervention. Retail prices remain high at Rs 70-72 per kg, while jaggery is selling at about Rs 80 per kg, higher than sugar. Traders attribute the increase to factors including crop stress, sugarcane disease, higher festive demand, and exports. The central government has eased supply by allowing duty-free imports of raw sugar, according to the report.